Flight distance calculator

Type any two airports — by code or city — and get the great-circle distance in statute miles, kilometres, and nautical miles, plus an estimated nonstop flight time and what the route costs in award miles.

How we calculate flight distance

The calculator returns the great-circle distance— the shortest path between two airports over the Earth's curved surface, computed with the haversine formula. It's the standard reference distance in aviation: award charts, mileage-earning tables, and flight planning all start from it. Real flown routes are usually 1–5% longer, as aircraft follow airways, organized ocean tracks, and winds.

Miles, kilometres, or nautical miles?

Unit	Equals	Used by
Statute mile (mi)	1.609 km	Award charts, earning tables, road signs
Kilometre (km)	1 km	Most of the world's everyday distances
Nautical mile (nm)	1.852 km	Pilots, flight plans, aviation charts

When an award chart says "flights up to 3,000 miles", it means statute miles of great-circle distance — exactly the first figure this calculator shows.

From distance to award miles

Distance-banded programs price awards directly off this number, so the calculator also estimates the one-way award miles per cabin and what those miles cost at our current cheapest live rate. For program-by-program charts, run the same route through the award calculator, or browse live miles listings to buy. Prefer the full-screen 3D experience? The same tool lives on the 3D route map.

Flight distance FAQ

How is flight distance calculated?

This calculator uses the great-circle distance — the shortest path between two points over the Earth's surface, computed with the haversine formula on the IUGG mean Earth radius (6,371 km). It's the same basis airlines, award charts, and flight planners use as their reference distance.

What's the difference between statute miles, nautical miles, and kilometres?

A statute mile is 1.609 km — the everyday mile, and the one airline award charts and frequent-flyer earning tables use. A nautical mile is 1.852 km (1.151 statute miles) — the unit pilots and aviation itself use. This calculator shows all three so you can use whichever your chart or flight plan needs.

Is the real flown distance the same as the great-circle distance?

Usually a little longer — typically 1–5% more. Aircraft follow airways and organized tracks, route around weather and restricted airspace, and chase or avoid jet streams. The great-circle figure is the standard reference distance, which is why award programs and earning charts are built on it.

How accurate is the estimated flight time?

It assumes a typical ~875 km/h effective cruise speed plus 45 minutes for taxi, climb, and descent. Real block times vary with aircraft type, winds (eastbound transatlantic flights are often an hour faster than westbound), and routing — treat it as a planning estimate.

Why does flight distance matter for airline miles?

Distance decides the price of many award tickets: programs like British Airways Avios and Cathay Asia Miles price awards in distance bands, so knowing the miles flown tells you which band — and how many miles — you need. This calculator estimates the award miles per cabin and shows what those miles cost to buy on MileMarketplace.

Flight distance calculator

How we calculate flight distance

Miles, kilometres, or nautical miles?

Unit	Equals	Used by
Statute mile (mi)	1.609 km	Award charts, earning tables, road signs
Kilometre (km)	1 km	Most of the world's everyday distances
Nautical mile (nm)	1.852 km	Pilots, flight plans, aviation charts

When an award chart says "flights up to 3,000 miles", it means statute miles of great-circle distance — exactly the first figure this calculator shows.