The flight distance from Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS) in East London, South Africa to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, United States is 17,277 kilometers (10,735 miles / 9,329 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 21h, flying west northwest at a heading of 289°.

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.

This is an international route connecting South Africa with United States. It is an intercontinental flight between Africa and North America. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 07:44 in East London, it's 21:44 in San Francisco. With a 10-hour time difference, travelers should plan for significant jet lag. It typically takes one day per hour of time difference to fully adjust.

The return flight from San Francisco (SFO) to East London (ELS) follows a heading of 88° (east). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

For more information about these airports, visit the Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.