UtilibyWritten by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 17, 2026 · Rules and formulas reviewed October 2026
What this free flight time calculator does
How long is the flight, how far is it, and what time will I land? A flight time calculator answers all three before you book. This free online tool takes any two of 114 major airports, or two sets of coordinates, and gives the great-circle distance in kilometres, miles and nautical miles, an estimated flight time, the compass direction and, if you add a departure date and time, the local arrival time with the time difference.
A route map draws the great-circle arc over the world's airports. A second tab totals a multi-stop journey with layovers, and a third lists the closest and farthest airports from your starting point with the distance and time to each. An optional jet stream setting adjusts for the faster eastbound and slower westbound flights. Everything runs in your browser, with no data sent anywhere.
How to use the flight time calculator
- Choose the departure and arrival. Start typing a city or airport code and pick from the list.
- Add a departure date and time to see the local arrival time and the time difference.
- Choose the aircraft or set a custom speed.
- Tick the jet stream option for a typical eastbound or westbound adjustment.
- Read the distance, flight time and map.
- Use the other tabs to total a multi-stop journey or list distances from your start.
How flight time and distance are estimated
The distance is the great-circle distance, found with the haversine formula on a sphere of radius 6,371 km. Flight time is a take-off and landing allowance plus the distance divided by an average speed. For a jet airliner the tool uses 830 km/h and 30 minutes. London Heathrow to New York JFK is 5,541 km, so the time is 30 minutes plus 6 hours 40 minutes, about 7 hours 11 minutes. The compass bearing is the initial heading, and it changes along the route.
| Route | Distance | Miles | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| London to Paris | 347 km | 216 | 0 h 55 min |
| Delhi to Dubai | 2,184 km | 1,357 | 3 h 08 min |
| Tashkent to Istanbul | 3,357 km | 2,086 | 4 h 33 min |
| London to New York | 5,541 km | 3,443 | 7 h 11 min |
| San Francisco to Tokyo Haneda | 8,286 km | 5,148 | 10 h 29 min |
| Singapore to London | 10,881 km | 6,761 | 13 h 37 min |
| Los Angeles to Sydney | 12,061 km | 7,494 | 15 h 02 min |
Jet streams, wind and why flights differ by direction
Jet streams are fast ribbons of air near cruising altitude that blow mainly west to east in the mid-latitudes. A flight from New York to London can be an hour faster than the return. The jet stream option adds up to about 7 percent to speed for eastbound routes and takes the same off westbound routes, scaled by the heading. It is a rule of thumb. On any given day the real wind can be much stronger or weaker, and airlines choose routes to use or avoid it.
Arrival time and time zones
Arrival time is departure time plus flight time, shown in the destination's time zone. The calculator turns your local departure into a universal time, adds the estimated duration, then formats the result using the destination's time zone rules for that date, so daylight saving changes are handled. Flying east across many zones means arriving later in the clock than the flight time suggests, sometimes on the next day. The tool shows the time difference between the two places, which also helps you plan for jet lag.
Planning multi-stop and connecting trips
For trips with connections, add up to five stops. Each leg is calculated, then layover time is added between flights. Tashkent to Istanbul to London to New York, for example, covers about 11,400 km (15 h 13 min in the air). A realistic layover is at least 90 minutes on international connections. Remember that this is air time plus your chosen layover, not a complete door-to-door time, which needs airport arrival and immigration time as well.
Common uses
- Comparing routes and destinations by distance and duration.
- Planning arrival times for pickups and hotel check-ins.
- Estimating jet lag from the time difference.
- Checking how far apart two cities are as the crow flies.
- Pilots, students and writers who need quick great-circle numbers.
Common mistakes when estimating flight time
The biggest error is treating flight time as journey time. A flight that takes 7 hours in the air can mean 11 or more hours door to door once you add the trip to the airport, check-in, security, boarding, taxiing, and immigration and baggage on arrival. Another common mistake is comparing a calculated figure with the time printed on a ticket. Airlines publish block times, measured from pushback to gate arrival, with extra minutes built in for taxiing and congestion, so a ticket may show 20 or 30 minutes more than the airborne estimate.
Travellers also forget that time zones can make the clock misleading. A flight from London to New York takes about 7 hours, but you land only about 2 hours later on the clock, while the return flight can seem to arrive the next morning. The tool shows the time difference so you can plan pickups, hotel check-ins and meetings. Finally, remember that distances in aviation are often in nautical miles, and that winter jet streams are stronger than summer ones, so eastbound crossings of the Atlantic are often quicker and westbound ones slower in the cold months than the yearly average suggests.
Accuracy, privacy and responsible use
The calculator uses straight great-circle distances, which are the shortest paths. Actual flight paths are longer because of airways, weather and airspace restrictions. The airport coordinates are reference points, accurate to a couple of kilometres. Flight times are estimates and not a substitute for airline schedules. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Related free tools
Use these free online tools together with this one:
- Plan how to adjust to the time difference with the jet lag calculator.
- Check whether a connection is long enough with the layover time calculator.
- Estimate the emissions of this route with the flight carbon footprint calculator.
- Work out when to leave for the airport with the airport arrival time calculator.
- Find a time that suits both ends of the trip with the meeting time zone planner.
- See when the sun rises and sets at your destination with the sunrise and sunset calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How is flight time calculated?
The tool measures the great-circle distance between the two airports, divides it by a typical average speed of 830 km/h for a jet airliner, and adds 30 minutes for take-off, climb and landing. London to New York is 5,541 km, which gives about 7 hours 11 minutes.
How accurate is the flight time estimate?
It is a good guide for planning, usually within 15 to 30 minutes on medium and long routes. Real times vary with wind, routing, air traffic control, aircraft type and taxi time, and they differ in each direction.
Why are flights faster in one direction?
The jet stream blows mainly from west to east at cruising height. Eastbound flights get a tailwind, so they are quicker, while westbound flights face a headwind. Tick the jet stream option for a typical adjustment.
What is great-circle distance?
The shortest path between two points on the Earth's surface, along a circle whose centre is the centre of the Earth. It is the route aircraft approximate, which is why flights from Europe to North America curve north on a flat map.
What is the distance between London and New York?
About 5,541 km, 3,443 miles or 2,992 nautical miles between Heathrow and JFK.
How do I find the local arrival time?
Enter the departure date and local time. The calculator converts to UTC, adds the flight time and converts to the destination time zone using the browser's time zone database, including daylight saving time.
Does it handle daylight saving time?
Yes, for airports in the list, because it uses IANA time zone rules for the date you pick. For coordinates you type yourself the local time is not shown.
Can I use my own coordinates?
Yes. Type latitude and longitude separated by a comma, such as 41.26, 69.28, in either box. The distance and flight time are shown, but not local times.
Which airports are included?
114 major international airports across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Each uses the airport's main reference point.
Can I calculate a multi-stop trip?
Yes. The second tab totals up to five stops with a layover you choose between each, giving distance, time in the air and total journey time.
What speed does it use for different aircraft?
A jet airliner is 830 km/h plus 30 minutes, a regional jet 700 km/h plus 25 minutes and a turboprop 500 km/h plus 20 minutes. Choose custom speed to set your own.
Is this the same as the time on my ticket?
No. Airlines publish block times that include taxiing and schedule padding. Use this tool to compare options and plan, and rely on your ticket for the real schedule.
What are nautical miles?
A nautical mile is 1.852 km, based on one minute of latitude. Aviation and shipping use them, and speeds in knots are nautical miles per hour.
How far can a plane fly non-stop?
Modern long-haul jets can fly 13,000 to 15,000 km. Singapore to London is 10,881 km, and Los Angeles to Sydney is about 12,061 km.
Does it work for helicopters or small planes?
Use the custom speed option with the cruise speed of your aircraft and a small allowance for take-off and landing.
Is my data stored or sent anywhere?
No. The airport list and all maths run in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
Is this flight time calculator free?
Yes. It is free to use online with no sign-up.
Sources and further reading
- International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.
- Wikipedia, Haversine formula.
- IANA, Time Zone Database.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, JetStream: online school for weather.
Sources were consulted in October 2026. Standards and rules can change, so always check the official page for your situation.