Flight time: San Francisco to Johannesburg

Route details

Distance breakdown: San Francisco to Johannesburg

The 16,979-km great-circle distance between San Francisco (37.62°N, 122.38°W) and Johannesburg (-26.14°N, 28.25°E) spans 63.8° of latitude and 150.6° of longitude, trending primarily east. In miles, this is 10,550 mi or 9169 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.

Cruise speed and flight phases

On this 16,979-km long-haul route, aircraft spend the majority of the 19h 22m to 21h 32m journey at optimal cruise altitude of 35,000–42,000 feet, where modern wide-body jets achieve true airspeeds of 820–900 km/h (Mach 0.82–0.86). The initial climb and final descent represent a smaller fraction of total flight time compared to shorter routes. Aircraft like the Boeing 777, 787, or Airbus A350 typically operate routes of this distance, with step climbs during the flight to reach progressively more efficient altitudes as fuel burns off and the aircraft lightens.

Ground time and routing overhead

Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at SFO, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at JNB, and taxi-in to the gate. SFO is a major international hub where taxi times of 15–25 minutes are common during peak periods. At JNB, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Oceanic tracks between San Francisco and Johannesburg follow organized route systems (like the North Atlantic Track system) that may add 5–10% to the theoretical great-circle distance. These tracks are assigned daily based on forecast winds.

Return flight: Johannesburg → San Francisco

The return flight from Johannesburg to San Francisco differs noticeably in duration due to upper-atmosphere wind patterns along this oceanic corridor. The jet stream — a high-altitude river of fast-moving air flowing generally from west to east — creates an asymmetry: the eastbound leg (San Francisco to Johannesburg if eastbound, otherwise Johannesburg to San Francisco) is typically 20–60 minutes shorter. Airlines adjust fuel loads and even routing to account for this, sometimes flying more southerly or northerly tracks on the headwind leg to minimize the impact. Over a year, the average time difference between the two directions on this specific route is estimated at 30–45 minutes.

Seasonal variation in flight times

Transatlantic flight times between San Francisco and Johannesburg show clear seasonal patterns driven by the jet stream. In winter (November–March), the jet stream is at its strongest, creating the largest difference between eastbound and westbound times — sometimes exceeding 1 hour. In summer, the jet stream weakens and shifts north, resulting in more symmetrical flight times but potentially more turbulence-related routing deviations. Spring and autumn transitions are the most unpredictable, with the jet stream shifting rapidly. Weather-related delays are more common in winter at both SFO and JNB, which can add to actual gate-to-gate times beyond the cruise-phase effects.

Airport information

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major international hub in San Francisco, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is a major international hub in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.

Flight times from San Francisco to other destinations

Flight time FAQ: San Francisco to Johannesburg