Airport Distance Calculator
This calculator computes the great circle distance between two geographic points in nautical miles using the haversine formula. In aviation, distances are measured in nautical miles (nm) because one nautical mile equals one minute of arc of latitude, making navigation calculations straightforward. Enter the latitude and longitude (in decimal degrees) for both departure and destination points. South latitudes and West longitudes are negative. The result is the shortest over-the-surface distance. Note that actual flight routing along airways, SIDs, and STARs will usually be longer, but the great circle distance is the standard baseline for fuel planning and performance calculations.
Enter coordinates in decimal degrees. Negative for South latitude or West longitude.
Haversine great circle formula
a = sin^2((lat2-lat1)/2) + cos(lat1) x cos(lat2) x sin^2((lon2-lon1)/2)
c = 2 x atan2(sqrt(a), sqrt(1-a))
d = R x c (R = 3,440.065 nm for Earth)
All angles must be in radians. The radius of Earth used for nautical miles is 3,440.065 nm (mean radius 6,371 km / 1.852 km per nm). The result is the shortest arc distance over the surface of a spherical Earth.
Distance unit conversions
- 1 nautical mile (nm) = 1.852 km = 1.15078 statute miles.
- LAX (Los Angeles) to JFK (New York): approximately 2,144 nm great circle distance.
- ORD (Chicago) to LHR (London): approximately 3,641 nm great circle distance.
- Airways routing will typically add 5-15% to the direct great circle distance.
Airport distance calculator: frequently asked questions
What is a great circle distance?
A great circle is the shortest path between two points on a sphere. In aviation, routes are planned along great circles to minimize distance. The haversine formula gives the great circle distance between two latitude/longitude points on Earth.
Why is distance measured in nautical miles in aviation?
One nautical mile equals one minute of arc of latitude on Earth's surface (approximately 1,852 meters or 6,076 feet). This makes navigation calculations involving latitude and longitude directly compatible with distances in nautical miles.
How accurate is the haversine formula?
The haversine formula treats Earth as a perfect sphere and is accurate to within 0.3% for aviation distances. For very long-range precision, Vincenty's formula on an ellipsoidal Earth is more accurate, but for flight planning purposes haversine is the standard.
How do I find an airport's coordinates?
Airport coordinates can be found in the FAA's official airport data at the FAA Aeronautical Chart User's Guide, in sectional charts, or in the Chart Supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory). ICAO airport codes correspond to specific lat/lon coordinates.
Does this give a direct route or airways distance?
This calculator gives the straight-line great circle distance between two points. Actual flight distances follow airways, SIDs, STARs, and ATC routing, which may be longer. Use this as a baseline planning tool for estimated distance.
Official sources
- FAA Chart Supplement (Airport/Facility Directory): faa.gov.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Earth Radius: ngdc.noaa.gov.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.