# Distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Tawau (TWU)

> 12,237 km · estimated flight time 15h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 12,237 km / 7,604 mi / 6,607 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 15h
- **Heading**: 292° (west northwest)
- **Return heading**: 47° (northeast)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (United States) → Malaysia
- **Intercontinental**: North America → Asia
- **Time difference**: +15h (When it's 16:42 in San Francisco, it's 07:42 in Tawau)
- **Elevation difference**: 44 ft (TWU is higher than SFO)

## Airports

### [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

### [Tawau Airport (TWU)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/twu-tawau-tawau-airport/1ef266df-fbaa-6dae-90d2-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Tawau, Malaysia
- ICAO: WBKW
- Timezone: Asia/Kuala_Lumpur
- Coordinates: 4.320000, 118.130000
- Elevation: 57 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 16:42 in San Francisco, it's 07:42 in Tawau.
With a 15-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [San Francisco International Airport (SFO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sfo-san-francisco-san-francisco-international-airport/1ef266df-382a-66ea-a1cc-06bb2780ed98)
- [Tawau Airport (TWU)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/twu-tawau-tawau-airport/1ef266df-fbaa-6dae-90d2-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)