# Distance from Sandakan (SDK) to San Jose (SJO)

> 16,981 km · estimated flight time 21h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 16,981 km / 10,551 mi / 9,169 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 21h
- **Heading**: 54° (northeast)
- **Return heading**: 305° (northwest)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (Malaysia) → Costa Rica
- **Intercontinental**: Asia → North America
- **Time difference**: -14h (When it's 10:20 in Sandakan, it's 20:20 in San Jose)
- **Elevation difference**: 2,975 ft (SJO is higher than SDK)

## Airports

### [Sandakan Airport (SDK)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sdk-sandakan-sandakan-airport/1ef266df-fb9f-6706-9553-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Sandakan, Malaysia
- ICAO: WBKS
- Timezone: Asia/Kuching
- Coordinates: 5.900000, 118.060000
- Elevation: 46 ft

### [Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sjo-san-jose-juan-santamaria-international-airport/1ef266df-6643-69f0-a227-06bb2780ed98)

- City: San Jose, Costa Rica
- ICAO: MROC
- Timezone: America/Costa_Rica
- Coordinates: 9.990000, -84.210000
- Elevation: 3,021 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 10:20 in Sandakan, it's 20:20 in San Jose.
With a 14-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [Sandakan Airport (SDK)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sdk-sandakan-sandakan-airport/1ef266df-fb9f-6706-9553-06bb2780ed98)
- [Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sjo-san-jose-juan-santamaria-international-airport/1ef266df-6643-69f0-a227-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)