Seoul to Nairobi
12h 55m The flight from Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) covers 10,055 km (6,248 miles) and takes approximately 12h 55m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads west on an initial great-circle bearing of 269°, passing near 24.5° N, 75.2° 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 | 18h 17m | 18h 42m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 53m | 13h 19m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 11h 10m | 11h 36m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 50m | 12h 15m |
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 | NBO | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Incheon International Airport | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport |
| City | Seoul | Nairobi |
| Country | South Korea | Kenya |
| ICAO | RKSI | HKJK |
| Coordinates | 37.4691, 126.451 | -1.3189, 36.9282 |
| Elevation | 23 ft | 5,330 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Seoul to Nairobi?
A non-stop flight from Seoul (ICN) to Nairobi (NBO) takes about 12h 55m. The great-circle distance is 10,055 km (6,248 miles, 5,429 nautical miles), flying west on an initial bearing of 269°.
How far is Seoul from Nairobi?
10,055 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,248 miles or 5,429 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 NBO?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 10,055 km the route is within reach of long-range widebodies, though not every city pair is served non-stop. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 12h 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.
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.