JFK to LAX: Distance and Flight Time
The distance from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,974 km (2,469 mi). A typical nonstop flight covers it in about 5h 30m, heading west. The distance is the same in either direction (LAX to JFK).
How far is it from New York to Los Angeles?
The great-circle distance between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,974 km (2,469 mi, 2,146 nautical miles). That is the straight-line distance; a real flight is a little longer because of air-traffic routing.
How long is the flight from JFK to LAX?
A nonstop flight typically takes about 5h 30m. This is an estimate from the distance; actual block times depend on the aircraft, winds and the exact routing. LAX is roughly west of JFK.
How is the JFK to LAX route written in code?
The pair is written JFK-LAX in IATA codes and KJFK-KLAX in ICAO codes, the form used on a flight plan. John F. Kennedy International Airport is JFK (KJFK), Los Angeles International Airport is LAX (KLAX).
| JFK | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | John F. Kennedy International Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| ICAO code | KJFK | KLAX |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Elevation | 13 ft | 125 ft |
| Rank by connections | #9 | #7 |
Both ICAO codes start with K, the prefix ICAO assigns to the contiguous United States, so this is a route inside one ICAO region. How ICAO prefixes are laid out.
LAX sits 112 ft (34 m) higher than JFK, which is a real difference in air density on takeoff.
Airlines flying JFK to LAX
7 airlines appear on this route in the open route dataset, 7 of them still listed as active. Each row gives the IATA code, the ICAO code and the radio callsign, which is what an air traffic controller hears:
| IATA | Airline | ICAO | Callsign | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | American Airlines | AAL | American | Active |
| B6 | JetBlue Airways | JBU | Jetblue | Active |
| DL | Delta Air Lines | DAL | Delta | Active |
| QF | Qantas | QFA | Qantas | Active |
| UA | United Airlines | UAL | United | Active |
| US | US Airways | USA | U S Air | Active |
| VX | Virgin America | VRD | Redwood | Active |
A further 1 carrier sell this pair as a codeshare without operating it: AS.
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How far is New York from Los Angeles?
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are 3,974 km (2,469 mi, 2,146 nautical miles) apart in a straight line.
How long is the flight from JFK to LAX?
A typical nonstop flight between JFK and LAX takes about 5h 30m. Actual times vary with aircraft type, winds and routing.
What direction is LAX from JFK?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) lies roughly west of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Which airlines fly JFK to LAX?
7 airlines appear on the JFK-LAX route in the open dataset, including American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines.
Related routes
Other routes from New York (JFK):
Other routes from Los Angeles (LAX):
JFK airport code · LAX airport code · Busiest airports worldwide