London to Xi'an
10h 40m The flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) covers 8,244 km (5,122 miles) and takes approximately 10h 40m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 54°, passing near 57.6° N, 65.3° 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 | 14h 59m | 15h 25m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 10h 34m | 10h 59m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 9h 10m | 9h 35m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 9h 42m | 10h 07m |
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 | XIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | London Heathrow Airport | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport |
| City | London | Xi'an |
| Country | United Kingdom | China |
| ICAO | EGLL | ZLXY |
| Coordinates | 51.4707, -0.4599 | 34.4422, 108.7624 |
| Elevation | 83 ft | 1,572 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from London to Xi'an?
A non-stop flight from London (LHR) to Xi'an (XIY) takes about 10h 40m. The great-circle distance is 8,244 km (5,122 miles, 4,451 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 54°.
How far is London from Xi'an?
8,244 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,122 miles or 4,451 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 XIY?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 8,244 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 10h 40m 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.