# Distance from Detroit (DTW) to East London (ELS)

> 14,033 km · estimated flight time 18h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 14,033 km / 8,720 mi / 7,577 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 18h
- **Heading**: 104° (east southeast)
- **Return heading**: 301° (west northwest)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (United States) → South Africa
- **Intercontinental**: North America → Africa
- **Time difference**: +6h (When it's 23:40 in Detroit, it's 05:40 in East London)
- **Elevation difference**: 210 ft (ELS is lower than DTW)

## Airports

### [Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/dtw-detroit-detroit-metro-wayne-county-airport/1ef266df-17dd-690a-88d4-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Detroit, United States
- ICAO: KDTW
- Timezone: America/New_York
- Coordinates: 42.210000, -83.350000
- Elevation: 645 ft

### [Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/els-east-london-ben-schoeman-airport/1ef266de-d194-6fde-b064-06bb2780ed98)

- City: East London, South Africa
- ICAO: FAEL
- Timezone: Africa/Johannesburg
- Coordinates: -33.040000, 27.830000
- Elevation: 435 ft

## Route notes

This is an ultra-long-haul route, one of the longest in aviation. It requires wide-body aircraft with extended range capability such as the Airbus A350-900ULR or Boeing 777-200LR. Passengers should prepare for an extended flight with multiple meal services.

Time-zone information: When it's 23:40 in Detroit, it's 05:40 in East London.
With a 6-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (DTW)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/dtw-detroit-detroit-metro-wayne-county-airport/1ef266df-17dd-690a-88d4-06bb2780ed98)
- [Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/els-east-london-ben-schoeman-airport/1ef266de-d194-6fde-b064-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)