The flight distance from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, United States to Simbai Airport (SIM) in Simbai, Papua New Guinea is 10,636 kilometers (6,609 miles / 5,743 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 14h, flying west at a heading of 268°.

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 United States with Papua New Guinea. It is an intercontinental flight between North America and Oceania. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 02:30 in San Francisco, it's 20:30 in Simbai. With a 18-hour time difference, travelers should plan for significant jet lag. It typically takes one day per hour of time difference to fully adjust.

There is a significant elevation difference of 5,791 feet between the two airports. Simbai Airport sits higher than San Francisco International Airport. Travelers arriving at the higher-elevation airport should be aware of potential altitude effects.

The return flight from Simbai (SIM) to San Francisco (SFO) follows a heading of 53° (northeast). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

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