Houston (IAH) to New York JFK (JFK) is 1,415 miles in a straight line, about 3h 20m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 11 air traffic control facilities along the way.
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.
- IAHTowerHouston Bush Tower (IAH)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- I90TRACONHouston TRACON (I90)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Starts your descentThank them →
- N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- JFKTowerJFK International Tower (JFK)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
New York JFK (JFK) to Houston (IAH)
JFK → N90 → ZNY → ZDC → ZID → ZTL → ZME → ZFW → ZHU → I90 → IAH
About the airports
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston, TX
Codes: IAH · KIAH
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Houston Bush Tower (IAH)
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, NY
Codes: JFK · KJFK
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: JFK International Tower (JFK)
More routes
- Houston (IAH) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Houston (IAH) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Houston (IAH) to Denver (DEN)
- Houston (IAH) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Houston (IAH) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Houston (IAH) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Houston (IAH) to Orlando (MCO)
- Houston (IAH) to Miami (MIA)
- Houston (IAH) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Houston (IAH) to Seattle (SEA)
- Houston (IAH) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Houston (IAH) to Newark (EWR)
- Houston (IAH) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Boston (BOS) to Houston (IAH)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Houston (IAH)
- Minneapolis (MSP) to Houston (IAH)
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.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Houston (IAH) to New York JFK (JFK)?
About 3h 20m gate to gate for the 1,415-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.
How far is Houston (IAH) from New York JFK (JFK)?
1,415 miles (1,230 nautical miles, 2,278 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Houston (IAH) to New York JFK (JFK)?
Usually 11 facilities: Houston Bush Tower (IAH), Houston TRACON (I90), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), New York ARTCC (ZNY), New York TRACON (N90) and JFK International Tower (JFK). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Houston (IAH) and New York JFK (JFK)?
Yes. New York JFK (JFK) is 1 hour ahead of Houston (IAH).