Seoul to Los Angeles
12h 23m The flight from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) covers 9,625 km (5,981 miles) and takes approximately 12h 23m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 49°, passing near 53.3° N, 174.0° 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 | 17h 30m | 17h 55m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 20m | 12h 46m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 10h 42m | 11h 07m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 19m | 11h 45m |
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 | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Incheon International Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| City | Seoul | Los Angeles |
| Country | South Korea | United States |
| ICAO | RKSI | KLAX |
| Coordinates | 37.4691, 126.451 | 33.9425, -118.408 |
| Elevation | 23 ft | 125 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Seoul to Los Angeles?
A non-stop flight from Seoul (ICN) to Los Angeles (LAX) takes about 12h 23m. The great-circle distance is 9,625 km (5,981 miles, 5,197 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 49°.
How far is Seoul from Los Angeles?
9,625 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,981 miles or 5,197 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 LAX?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,625 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 23m 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.