New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,469 miles in a straight line, about 5h 26m 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.
- JFKTowerJFK International Tower (JFK)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Starts your descentThank them →
- SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- LAXTowerLos Angeles International Tower (LAX)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York JFK (JFK)
LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZDV → ZKC → ZMP → ZAU → ZOB → ZNY → N90 → JFK
About the airports
John F. Kennedy International Airport
New York, NY
Codes: JFK · KJFK
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: JFK International Tower (JFK)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, CA
Codes: LAX · KLAX
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)
More routes
- New York JFK (JFK) to Atlanta (ATL)
- New York JFK (JFK) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- New York JFK (JFK) to Denver (DEN)
- New York JFK (JFK) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Las Vegas (LAS) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Orlando (MCO) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Miami (MIA) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Charlotte (CLT) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Seattle (SEA) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Phoenix (PHX) to New York JFK (JFK)
- San Francisco (SFO) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Houston (IAH) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Boston (BOS) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Minneapolis (MSP) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Detroit (DTW) to New York JFK (JFK)
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 New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
About 5h 26m gate to gate for the 2,469-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is New York JFK (JFK) from Los Angeles (LAX)?
2,469 miles (2,146 nautical miles, 3,974 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from New York JFK (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Usually 11 facilities: JFK International Tower (JFK), New York TRACON (N90), New York ARTCC (ZNY), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), 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 New York JFK (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX)?
Yes. Los Angeles (LAX) is 3 hours behind New York JFK (JFK).