London to Queenstown
23h 57m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Queenstown Airport (ZQN) covers 18,943 km (11,771 miles) and takes approximately 23h 57m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 52°, passing near 26.5° N, 117.9° 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 | 34h 27m | 34h 52m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 24h 17m | 24h 42m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 21h 03m | 21h 28m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 22h 17m | 22h 42m |
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 | ZQN | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | Queenstown Airport |
| City | London | Queenstown |
| Country | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
| ICAO | EGLL | NZQN |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | -45.0192, 168.7464 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 1,171 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to Queenstown?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to Queenstown (ZQN) takes about 23h 57m. The great-circle distance is 18,943 km (11,771 miles, 10,228 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 52°.
How far is London from Queenstown?
18,943 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 11,771 miles or 10,228 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 ZQN?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 18,943 km the route is at the extreme end of what any airliner can fly non-stop, so a connection is likely. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 23h 57m 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.