Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 369 miles in a straight line, about 1h 14m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 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.
- PHXTowerPhoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- P50TRACONPhoenix TRACON (P50)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank 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 Phoenix (PHX)
LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZAB → P50 → PHX
About the airports
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix, AZ
Codes: PHX · KPHX
Time zone: Arizona (Mountain, no daylight saving)
Control tower: Phoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, CA
Codes: LAX · KLAX
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)
More routes
- Phoenix (PHX) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Denver (DEN)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Phoenix (PHX) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Orlando (MCO)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Miami (MIA)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Seattle (SEA)
- Newark (EWR) to Phoenix (PHX)
- San Francisco (SFO) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Houston (IAH) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Boston (BOS) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Minneapolis (MSP) to Phoenix (PHX)
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 Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
About 1h 14m gate to gate for the 369-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is Phoenix (PHX) from Los Angeles (LAX)?
369 miles (321 nautical miles, 594 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Usually 6 facilities: Phoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX), Phoenix TRACON (P50), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), 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 Phoenix (PHX) and Los Angeles (LAX)?
Only in winter, when Los Angeles (LAX) is 1 hour behind Phoenix (PHX). In summer the clocks match.