London to Wellington
23h 49m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Wellington International Airport (WLG) covers 18,831 km (11,701 miles) and takes approximately 23h 49m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north on an initial great-circle bearing of 20°, passing near 41.1° N, 153.3° 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 14m | 34h 39m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 24h 09m | 24h 34m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 20h 55m | 21h 21m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 22h 09m | 22h 34m |
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 | WLG | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | Wellington International Airport |
| City | London | Wellington |
| Country | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
| ICAO | EGLL | NZWN |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | -41.3268, 174.8069 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 41 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to Wellington?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to Wellington (WLG) takes about 23h 49m. The great-circle distance is 18,831 km (11,701 miles, 10,168 nautical miles), flying north on an initial bearing of 20°.
How far is London from Wellington?
18,831 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 11,701 miles or 10,168 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 WLG?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 18,831 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 49m 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.