New York to Melbourne
21h 10m The flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Melbourne Airport (MEL) covers 16,696 km (10,374 miles) and takes approximately 21h 10m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads west on an initial great-circle bearing of 263°, passing near 4.5° N, 147.9° 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 | 30h 21m | 30h 47m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 21h 24m | 21h 49m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 18h 33m | 18h 58m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 19h 39m | 20h 04m |
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
| JFK | MEL | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | John F. Kennedy International Airport | Melbourne Airport |
| City | New York | Melbourne |
| Country | United States | Australia |
| ICAO | KJFK | YMML |
| Coordinates | 40.6394, -73.7793 | -37.6707, 144.8379 |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 434 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from New York to Melbourne?
A non-stop flight from New York (JFK) to Melbourne (MEL) takes about 21h 10m. The great-circle distance is 16,696 km (10,374 miles, 9,015 nautical miles), flying west on an initial bearing of 263°.
How far is New York from Melbourne?
16,696 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 10,374 miles or 9,015 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 JFK and MEL?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 16,696 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 10m 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.
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.