SJO
San Jose
Costa Rica
14,926 km
9,275 miles
VAI
Vanimo Airport
Papua New Guinea
Distance
14,926 km
9,275 mi / 8,059 nm
Est. Flight Time
19h
Ultra-long-haul route
Time Difference
+16h
America/Costa_Rica
Heading
276°
west

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Airport Comparison

SJO VAI
Airport Name Juan Santamaria International Airport Vanimo Airport
IATA Code SJO VAI
ICAO Code MROC AYVN
City San Jose N/A
Country Costa Rica Papua New Guinea
Timezone America/Costa_Rica Pacific/Port_Moresby
Elevation 3,021 ft 10 ft
Coordinates 9.990000, -84.210000 -2.700000, 141.300000

San Jose (SJO) to Vanimo Airport (VAI) Flight Distance

The flight distance from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica to Vanimo Airport (VAI) in Vanimo Airport, Papua New Guinea is 14,926 kilometers (9,275 miles / 8,059 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 19h, flying west at a heading of 276°.

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 Costa Rica 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 00:15 in San Jose, it's 16:15 in Vanimo Airport. With a 16-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 3,011 feet between the two airports. Vanimo Airport sits lower than Juan Santamaria International Airport.

The return flight from Vanimo Airport (VAI) to San Jose (SJO) follows a heading of 79° (east 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 Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) and Vanimo Airport (VAI) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.

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