Zurich to Beijing
10h 19m The flight from Zürich Airport (ZRH) to Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) covers 7,972 km (4,954 miles) and takes approximately 10h 19m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 50°, passing near 58.4° N, 67.4° 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 | 14h 30m | 14h 55m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 10h 13m | 10h 38m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 8h 51m | 9h 17m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 9h 23m | 9h 48m |
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
| ZRH | PEK | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Zürich Airport | Beijing Capital International Airport |
| City | Zurich | Beijing |
| Country | Switzerland | China |
| ICAO | LSZH | ZBAA |
| Coordinates | 47.4581, 8.5481 | 40.0773, 116.5967 |
| Elevation | 1,417 ft | 116 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Zurich to Beijing?
A non-stop flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Beijing (PEK) takes about 10h 19m. The great-circle distance is 7,972 km (4,954 miles, 4,305 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 50°.
How far is Zurich from Beijing?
7,972 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 4,954 miles or 4,305 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 ZRH and PEK?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 7,972 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 10h 19m 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.