How is flight time calculated?

We compute the great-circle (shortest) distance between the two airports from their coordinates, divide it by an average cruise speed of about 800 km/h, and add roughly 30 minutes for taxi, take-off, climb, descent and landing. The result is an estimate for a nonstop flight.

Why is the calculated time different from the airline schedule?

Real flights are affected by jet-stream winds (eastbound flights are usually faster), air-traffic routing that is longer than the straight-line distance, the specific aircraft, and connections. Estimates are typically within about 15% of the scheduled block time.

Does the calculator account for layovers?

No. The estimate is for a single nonstop leg. A connecting itinerary will take longer because of the layover and the extra distance via the hub.

Flight Time Calculator: Duration, Distance & Arrival Time

How the flight time calculator works

This tool gives a quick, clear estimate of how long a nonstop flight between two airports should take, and what the clock will read when you land.

For any pair of airports it does three things:

Measures the distance. It calculates the great-circle distance (the shortest path over the curved surface of the Earth) using each airport's latitude and longitude and the haversine formula.
Estimates the flying time. It divides that distance by an average cruise speed of about 800 km/h and adds roughly 30 minutes for taxiing, take-off, climb, descent and landing.
Converts the arrival time. If you enter a departure time, it adds the flight duration and shows the result in the destination's local time, correctly handling the time-zone difference (and telling you if you land the next day).

Because it is based on the straight-line distance and an average speed, the answer is an estimate. Real flights run a little longer or shorter depending on the jet stream, the route air-traffic control assigns, and the aircraft type, but for planning it is usually within about 15% of the published schedule.

Popular routes

Tap a route to calculate it instantly:

Delhi → Dubai Mumbai → London Delhi → New York Kochi → Dubai Bengaluru → San Francisco Chennai → Singapore Delhi → Mumbai Amritsar → Toronto

Frequently asked questions

How is flight time calculated?: We compute the great-circle (shortest) distance between the two airports from their coordinates, divide it by an average cruise speed of about 800 km/h, and add roughly 30 minutes for the time spent taxiing, taking off, climbing, descending and landing. The output is an estimate for a nonstop flight.
What is a great-circle distance?: It is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. On a flat map this path looks like a curve, which is why long-haul flights appear to arc towards the poles rather than fly in a straight line.
Why is my answer different from the airline's schedule?: Three things. First, jet-stream winds: an eastbound flight rides a tailwind and is faster, while the westbound return is slower. Second, the actual routing, which runs a few percent longer than the straight line. Third, the aircraft type. Connections add even more time on top. Expect accuracy within roughly 15%.
Does it include layovers or connecting flights?: No. The estimate is for one nonstop leg. A connecting itinerary will always take longer because of the layover and the detour through the connecting hub.
What time zone is the arrival shown in?: Always the destination's local time. Enter your departure time in the origin's local time and the calculator handles the time-zone conversion for you, including whether you land on the next day.