London to Addis Ababa
7h 46m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) covers 5,920 km (3,678 miles) and takes approximately 7h 46m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads south-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 129°, passing near 31.7° N, 23.8° E at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 10h 46m | 11h 11m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 7h 35m | 8h 01m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 6h 35m | 7h 00m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 6h 58m | 7h 23m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| LHR | ADD | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | Addis Ababa Bole International Airport |
| City | London | Addis Ababa |
| Country | United Kingdom | Ethiopia |
| ICAO | EGLL | HAAB |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | 8.9779, 38.7993 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 7,630 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to Addis Ababa?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to Addis Ababa (ADD) takes about 7h 46m. The great-circle distance is 5,920 km (3,678 miles, 3,196 nautical miles), flying south-east on an initial bearing of 129°.
How far is London from Addis Ababa?
5,920 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 3,678 miles or 3,196 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between LHR and ADD?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 5,920 km the route is comfortably within range of a non-stop service if an airline chooses to fly it. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 7h 46m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Other routes from London
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.