Los Angeles to Christchurch
14h 12m The flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) covers 11,091 km (6,891 miles) and takes approximately 14h 12m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads south-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 223°, passing near 5.8° S, 150.3° 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 | 20h 10m | 20h 35m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 14h 13m | 14h 38m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 12h 19m | 12h 45m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 13h 03m | 13h 28m |
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
| LAX | CHC | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Los Angeles International Airport | Christchurch International Airport |
| City | Los Angeles | Christchurch |
| Country | United States | New Zealand |
| ICAO | KLAX | NZCH |
| Coordinates | 33.9425, -118.408 | -43.489, 172.5321 |
| Elevation | 125 ft | 123 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Christchurch?
A non-stop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Christchurch (CHC) takes about 14h 12m. The great-circle distance is 11,091 km (6,891 miles, 5,988 nautical miles), flying south-west on an initial bearing of 223°.
How far is Los Angeles from Christchurch?
11,091 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,891 miles or 5,988 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 LAX and CHC?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 11,091 km the route is within reach of long-range widebodies, though not every city pair is served non-stop. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 14h 12m 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 Los Angeles
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.