flights and time

Flight Time Calculator

Pick two cities to get the great circle distance, an estimated non stop flying time including taxi and climb, and the time difference waiting for you at the other end.

Route

wheels up

11h 58m

Distance9,559 km
Distance in miles5,939 mi
Time difference+8 hours
Route typeDirect on some routes, otherwise one stop

Estimated for a non stop flight at typical cruise speed. Headwinds add up to an hour eastbound to westbound on long haul, and connections add two to four hours per stop.

How the estimate is built

The distance is the great circle line between the two city centres, which is the shortest path over the surface of the earth. The duration uses a cruise speed of 860 kilometres an hour and adds a fixed overhead for taxi, climb, descent and approach. That overhead is proportionally huge on a short hop, which is why a 400 kilometre flight still takes over an hour gate to gate.

Planning around the time you land

Arrival time matters more than duration. Landing after ten at night in an unfamiliar city means a taxi instead of the metro and a hostel reception that may be closed. If the flight time and the time difference put you in late, book the first night somewhere with a twenty four hour desk and sort the cheap bed out the next day.

Work out the recovery with the jet lag calculator, and check both clocks with the time zone converter.

Questions people ask

+Why is my return flight a different length?

The jet stream. Flying east across the Atlantic or the Pacific rides a tailwind and can be an hour shorter than the same route westbound. Airlines publish different block times in each direction for that reason.

+Does this include connections?

No. It estimates a single non stop leg. Add two to four hours for each connection, more if you change airport or terminal.

+How early should I get to the airport?

Two hours for short haul with hand luggage, three for long haul or if you are checking a bag. Add an hour at airports known for slow security in peak season.

+Is great circle distance the same as the route flown?

Almost. Aircraft follow airways and avoid restricted airspace, so real tracks run a little longer than the straight line over the globe.

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