Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,553 miles in a straight line, about 5h 36m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 5 air traffic control facilities along the way.

2,553miles
2,218nautical miles
4,108kilometers
~5h 36mestimated flight time
+3 h / +2 htime change on arrival (summer / winter)
Northeastinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. HNLTowerHonolulu Tower (HNL)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZHNCenterHonolulu Control Facility (ZHN)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Starts your descentThank them →
  4. SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  5. LAXTowerLos Angeles International Tower (LAX)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL)

LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZHN → HNL

About the airports

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport

Honolulu, HI

Codes: HNL · PHNL

Time zone: Hawaii

Control tower: Honolulu Tower (HNL)

Thank the tower →

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles, CA

Codes: LAX · KLAX

Time zone: Pacific

Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX)?

About 5h 36m gate to gate for the 2,553-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Honolulu (HNL) from Los Angeles (LAX)?

2,553 miles (2,218 nautical miles, 4,108 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Los Angeles (LAX)?

Usually 5 facilities: Honolulu Tower (HNL), Honolulu Control Facility (ZHN), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Southern California TRACON (SCT) and Los Angeles International Tower (LAX). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Honolulu (HNL) and Los Angeles (LAX)?

Yes. Los Angeles (LAX) is 3 hours ahead of Honolulu (HNL) in summer and 2 hours in winter.

Updated October 2026

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