Melbourne to London
21h 25m The flight from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 16,908 km (10,506 miles) and takes approximately 21h 25m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 311°, passing near 20.8° N, 93.1° 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 | 30h 45m | 31h 10m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 21h 41m | 22h 06m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 18h 47m | 19h 12m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 19h 54m | 20h 19m |
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
| MEL | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Melbourne Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | Melbourne | London |
| Country | Australia | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | YMML | EGLL |
| Coordinates | -37.6707, 144.8379 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 434 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Melbourne to London?
A non-stop flight from Melbourne (MEL) to London (LHR) takes about 21h 25m. The great-circle distance is 16,908 km (10,506 miles, 9,130 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 311°.
How far is Melbourne from London?
16,908 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 10,506 miles or 9,130 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 MEL and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 16,908 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 21h 25m 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 Melbourne
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.