Wellington to Seoul
12h 54m The flight from Wellington International Airport (WLG) to Incheon International Airport (ICN) covers 10,044 km (6,241 miles) and takes approximately 12h 54m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 324°, passing near 2.1° S, 149.9° 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 16m | 18h 41m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 53m | 13h 18m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 11h 10m | 11h 35m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 49m | 12h 14m |
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
| WLG | ICN | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Wellington International Airport | Incheon International Airport |
| City | Wellington | Seoul |
| Country | New Zealand | South Korea |
| ICAO | NZWN | RKSI |
| Coordinates | -41.3268, 174.8069 | 37.4691, 126.451 |
| Elevation | 41 ft | 23 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Wellington to Seoul?
A non-stop flight from Wellington (WLG) to Seoul (ICN) takes about 12h 54m. The great-circle distance is 10,044 km (6,241 miles, 5,423 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 324°.
How far is Wellington from Seoul?
10,044 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,241 miles or 5,423 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 WLG and ICN?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 10,044 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 54m 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 Wellington
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.