Los Angeles to Melbourne
16h 16m The flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Melbourne Airport (MEL) covers 12,758 km (7,928 miles) and takes approximately 16h 16m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads south-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 240°, passing near 2.8° S, 165.3° 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 | 23h 12m | 23h 37m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 16h 21m | 16h 47m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 14h 11m | 14h 36m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 15h 01m | 15h 26m |
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 | MEL | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Los Angeles International Airport | Melbourne Airport |
| City | Los Angeles | Melbourne |
| Country | United States | Australia |
| ICAO | KLAX | YMML |
| Coordinates | 33.9425, -118.408 | -37.6707, 144.8379 |
| Elevation | 125 ft | 434 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne?
A non-stop flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL) takes about 16h 16m. The great-circle distance is 12,758 km (7,928 miles, 6,889 nautical miles), flying south-west on an initial bearing of 240°.
How far is Los Angeles from Melbourne?
12,758 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 7,928 miles or 6,889 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 MEL?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 12,758 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 16h 16m 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.