Flight Path Calculator
Calculate flight distance, duration, and view the route on an interactive map.
About Flight Path Calculator
The Flight Path & Distance Calculator helps you plan air travel by calculating the Great Circle Distance between airports. It visualizes the route on a world map and estimates the flight duration based on standard aircraft cruising speeds.
How is Flight Time Calculated?
Our tool uses a standard approximation for commercial jet aircraft:
- Cruising Speed: ~500 knots (575 mph / 926 km/h).
- Overhead: +30 minutes added for takeoff, landing, and taxiing traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Great Circle Distance?
It's the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. Since the Earth is spherical, the shortest path often looks curved on a standard 2D map.
Does this account for wind or weather?
No, this is a theoretical calculation based on distance and average speed. Real-world flight times vary due to jet streams, weather diversions, and air traffic control holds.
Why does the flight path look curved?
Maps are flat, but the Earth is round. The shortest path between two points on a sphere (a Great Circle) appears as a curve when projected onto a flat 2D map (Mercator projection).
How accurate is the flight time estimate?
The estimate is based on a standard cruising speed of 500 knots (575 mph). It includes a 30-minute buffer for takeoff and landing. Actual flight times will vary by aircraft type and headwinds.
Can I calculate distances between cities without airports?
Currently, our database is optimized for airports (IATA codes). However, major cities often share names with their primary airports, so searching for "New York" or "London" works perfectly.
What units are used for distance?
We provide distance in three common units: Kilometers (km), Miles (mi), and Nautical Miles (NM—used in aviation and maritime navigation).
Is this tool free to use?
Yes, the Flight Path Calculator is 100% free with no usage limits. You can calculate as many routes as you need for travel planning or educational purposes.
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