Rio De Janeiro to London
11h 55m The flight from Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 9,253 km (5,750 miles) and takes approximately 11h 55m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 25°, passing near 15.3° N, 26.2° 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 | 16h 49m | 17h 15m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 11h 52m | 12h 17m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 10h 17m | 10h 42m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 10h 53m | 11h 18m |
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
| GIG | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | Rio De Janeiro | London |
| Country | Brazil | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | SBGL | EGLL |
| Coordinates | -22.81, -43.2506 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 28 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Rio De Janeiro to London?
A non-stop flight from Rio De Janeiro (GIG) to London (LHR) takes about 11h 55m. The great-circle distance is 9,253 km (5,750 miles, 4,996 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 25°.
How far is Rio De Janeiro from London?
9,253 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,750 miles or 4,996 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 GIG and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,253 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 11h 55m 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 Rio De Janeiro
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.