London to New York
7h 18m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) covers 5,540 km (3,442 miles) and takes approximately 7h 18m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads west on an initial great-circle bearing of 288°, passing near 52.2° N, 41.3° W 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 04m | 10h 30m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 7h 06m | 7h 31m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 6h 09m | 6h 35m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 6h 31m | 6h 56m |
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 | JFK | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| City | London | New York |
| Country | United Kingdom | United States |
| ICAO | EGLL | KJFK |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | 40.6394, -73.7793 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 13 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to New York?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to New York (JFK) takes about 7h 18m. The great-circle distance is 5,540 km (3,442 miles, 2,991 nautical miles), flying west on an initial bearing of 288°.
How far is London from New York?
5,540 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 3,442 miles or 2,991 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 JFK?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 5,540 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 18m 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.