Flight time calculator
Pick two cities to estimate the flight time, the distance and, if you add a departure time, when you'll land in local time.
How the estimate works
The calculator measures the shortest distance over the Earth between the two cities (the great-circle route), divides it by a typical jet cruising speed of 500 mph (about 800 km/h), and adds 30 minutes for taxiing, take-off, climb and landing. Real flights vary: winds can add or save an hour on long routes (eastbound flights across the Atlantic and Pacific are usually faster thanks to the jet stream), and airlines route around weather and airspace. Check your airline for scheduled times.
Arrival time is shown in the destination's local time, with its time zone and daylight saving rules applied. For the time difference itself, see the time zone converter or the distance calculator.
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Questions people ask
How is flight time calculated?
Distance divided by cruising speed, plus about 30 minutes for taxi, take-off and landing. With a cruising speed of 500 mph, a 3,000-mile flight takes about 6.5 hours.
Why are flights east faster than flights west?
The jet stream, a band of strong west-to-east winds at cruising altitude, pushes eastbound planes along and slows westbound ones. On transatlantic routes the difference can be an hour or more.
Is the arrival time in local time?
Yes. It's shown in the destination city's own time, including daylight saving time on that date.