Zurich to Los Angeles
12h 16m The flight from Zürich Airport (ZRH) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) covers 9,535 km (5,925 miles) and takes approximately 12h 16m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 318°, passing near 62.1° N, 66.5° 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 20m | 17h 45m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 12h 13m | 12h 39m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 10h 36m | 11h 01m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 11h 13m | 11h 38m |
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 | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Zürich Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| City | Zurich | Los Angeles |
| Country | Switzerland | United States |
| ICAO | LSZH | KLAX |
| Coordinates | 47.4581, 8.5481 | 33.9425, -118.408 |
| Elevation | 1,417 ft | 125 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Zurich to Los Angeles?
A non-stop flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Los Angeles (LAX) takes about 12h 16m. The great-circle distance is 9,535 km (5,925 miles, 5,148 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 318°.
How far is Zurich from Los Angeles?
9,535 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 5,925 miles or 5,148 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 LAX?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 9,535 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 16m 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.