✈️ Flight Time Calculator
Enter a distance and a cruise speed to estimate the flight time — the cruise portion plus taxi, climb, descent and approach.
Estimated total time
7 h 11 m
incl. ~30 min taxi / climb / descent
Time in the air (cruise only)
6 h 41 m
A rough estimate: cruise time is distance ÷ speed, plus about 30 minutes for taxi, climb, descent and approach. A typical jetliner cruises near 830 km/h (≈515 mph), but real ground speed swings ±100 km/h or more with head- and tail-winds — which is why the same route differs by direction. 🔒 In your browser.
How the flight time calculator works
Flight time is roughly the distance divided by the aircraft's cruise speed, plus a fixed overhead for the parts of the journey that aren't cruise: taxiing out and in, the climb to altitude and the descent and approach. The tool uses a typical jetliner cruise of about 830 km/h (515 mph) by default and adds around 30 minutes of overhead, and shows both the cruise-only time and the estimated total.
Real ground speed swings by 100 km/h or more with head- and tail-winds — the jet stream is why an eastbound flight can be an hour shorter than the same route westbound. Treat this as a ballpark; airline schedules build in buffers and reflect the actual winds and routing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate flight time?
Divide the distance by the cruise speed, then add about 30 minutes for taxi, climb, descent and approach. For 5,000 km at 830 km/h that's about 6 hours cruise plus overhead — roughly 6½ hours total.
How fast does a passenger jet fly?
A typical airliner (737/A320 family) cruises around Mach 0.78 — about 830–840 km/h (515–520 mph) true airspeed. Long-haul widebodies are similar. Ground speed varies with wind.
Why do flight times differ by direction?
Because of winds aloft, especially the jet stream. Flying with a tailwind (often eastbound at mid-latitudes) is faster; flying into a headwind is slower — so the same route can take noticeably longer one way than the other.
Does this include taxi and boarding?
It adds roughly 30 minutes for taxi, climb, descent and approach — the non-cruise flying time. It does not include boarding, pushback waits or gate delays, which vary by airport and airline.
How accurate is the estimate?
It's a rough guide. It ignores the actual winds, the specific routing, and airport-specific taxi times, all of which airline schedules account for. Use it to compare routes, not to plan a tight connection.
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