Seoul to London
11h 26m The flight from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) covers 8,861 km (5,506 miles) and takes approximately 11h 26m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 330°, passing near 64.9° N, 76.6° 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 | 16h 07m | 16h 32m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 11h 22m | 11h 47m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 9h 51m | 10h 16m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 10h 25m | 10h 51m |
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
| ICN | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Incheon International Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| City | Seoul | London |
| Country | South Korea | United Kingdom |
| ICAO | RKSI | EGLL |
| Coordinates | 37.4691, 126.451 | 51.4707, -0.4599 |
| Elevation | 23 ft | 83 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Seoul to London?
A non-stop flight from Seoul (ICN) to London (LHR) takes about 11h 26m. The great-circle distance is 8,861 km (5,506 miles, 4,785 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 330°.
How far is Seoul from London?
8,861 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,506 miles or 4,785 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 ICN and LHR?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 8,861 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 26m 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.