# Distance from East London (ELS) to San Francisco (SFO)

> 17,277 km · estimated flight time 21h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 17,277 km / 10,735 mi / 9,329 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 21h
- **Heading**: 289° (west northwest)
- **Return heading**: 88° (east)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (South Africa) → United States
- **Intercontinental**: Africa → North America
- **Time difference**: -9h (When it's 22:24 in East London, it's 13:24 in San Francisco)
- **Elevation difference**: 422 ft (SFO 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 Francisco International Airport (SFO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sfo-san-francisco-san-francisco-international-airport/1ef266df-382a-66ea-a1cc-06bb2780ed98)

- City: San Francisco, United States
- ICAO: KSFO
- Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Coordinates: 37.620000, -122.380000
- Elevation: 13 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 22:24 in East London, it's 13:24 in San Francisco.
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 Francisco International Airport (SFO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sfo-san-francisco-san-francisco-international-airport/1ef266df-382a-66ea-a1cc-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)