São Paulo to Los Angeles
12h 44m The flight from São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) covers 9,919 km (6,163 miles) and takes approximately 12h 44m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 308°, passing near 6.5° N, 80.3° 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 | 18h 02m | 18h 27m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 43m | 13h 08m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 11h 01m | 11h 26m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 40m | 12h 05m |
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
| GRU | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| City | São Paulo | Los Angeles |
| Country | Brazil | United States |
| ICAO | SBGR | KLAX |
| Coordinates | -23.4313, -46.47 | 33.9425, -118.408 |
| Elevation | 2,461 ft | 125 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from São Paulo to Los Angeles?
A non-stop flight from São Paulo (GRU) to Los Angeles (LAX) takes about 12h 44m. The great-circle distance is 9,919 km (6,163 miles, 5,356 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 308°.
How far is São Paulo from Los Angeles?
9,919 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,163 miles or 5,356 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 GRU and LAX?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,919 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 12h 44m 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 São Paulo
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.