# Distance from San Jose (SJO) to Tawau (TWU)

> 17,073 km · estimated flight time 21h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 17,073 km / 10,609 mi / 9,219 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 21h
- **Heading**: 302° (west northwest)
- **Return heading**: 57° (east northeast)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (Costa Rica) → Malaysia
- **Intercontinental**: North America → Asia
- **Time difference**: +14h (When it's 00:47 in San Jose, it's 14:47 in Tawau)
- **Elevation difference**: 2,964 ft (TWU is lower than SJO)

## Airports

### [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

### [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 00:47 in San Jose, it's 14:47 in Tawau.
With a 14-hour time difference, expect significant jet lag.

## Related

- [Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sjo-san-jose-juan-santamaria-international-airport/1ef266df-6643-69f0-a227-06bb2780ed98)
- [Tawau Airport (TWU)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/twu-tawau-tawau-airport/1ef266df-fbaa-6dae-90d2-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)