Riga to New York
8h 48m The flight from Riga International Airport (RIX) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) covers 6,746 km (4,192 miles) and takes approximately 8h 48m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 300°, passing near 59.6° N, 35.5° 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 | 12h 16m | 12h 41m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 8h 39m | 9h 04m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 7h 30m | 7h 55m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 7h 56m | 8h 21m |
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
| RIX | JFK | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Riga International Airport | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| City | Riga | New York |
| Country | Latvia | United States |
| ICAO | EVRA | KJFK |
| Coordinates | 56.9208, 23.9707 | 40.6394, -73.7793 |
| Elevation | 36 ft | 13 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Riga to New York?
A non-stop flight from Riga (RIX) to New York (JFK) takes about 8h 48m. The great-circle distance is 6,746 km (4,192 miles, 3,642 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 300°.
How far is Riga from New York?
6,746 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 4,192 miles or 3,642 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 RIX and JFK?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 6,746 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 8h 48m 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.