# Distance from East London (ELS) to San Diego (SAN)

> 16,764 km · estimated flight time 21h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 16,764 km / 10,417 mi / 9,052 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 21h
- **Heading**: 279° (west)
- **Return heading**: 100° (east)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (South Africa) → United States
- **Intercontinental**: Africa → North America
- **Time difference**: -9h (When it's 03:26 in East London, it's 18:26 in San Diego)
- **Elevation difference**: 418 ft (SAN is lower than ELS)

## Airports

### [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

### [San Diego International Airport (SAN)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/san-san-diego-san-diego-international-airport/1ef266df-375a-6760-a0f3-06bb2780ed98)

- City: San Diego, United States
- ICAO: KSAN
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates: 32.730000, -117.190000
- Elevation: 17 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 03:26 in East London, it's 18:26 in San Diego.
With a 9-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/els-east-london-ben-schoeman-airport/1ef266de-d194-6fde-b064-06bb2780ed98)
- [San Diego International Airport (SAN)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/san-san-diego-san-diego-international-airport/1ef266df-375a-6760-a0f3-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)