Nonstop flight route between San Diego, California, United States and London, England, United Kingdom:
Departure Airport:
Arrival Airport:
Distance from SAN to LHR:
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- About this route
- SAN Airport Information
- LHR Airport Information
- Facts about SAN
- Facts about LHR
- Map of Nearest Airports to SAN
- List of Nearest Airports to SAN
- Map of Furthest Airports from SAN
- List of Furthest Airports from SAN
- Map of Nearest Airports to LHR
- List of Nearest Airports to LHR
- Map of Furthest Airports from LHR
- List of Furthest Airports from LHR
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Diego, California, United States and London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London, England, United Kingdom would travel a Great Circle distance of 5,472 miles (or 8,806 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between San Diego International Airport and London Heathrow Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between San Diego International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | SAN / KSAN |
| Airport Names: |
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| Location: | San Diego, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 32°44'0"N by 117°11'22"W |
| Area Served: | Greater San Diego |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 17 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from SAN |
| More Information: | SAN Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LHR / EGLL |
| Airport Name: | London Heathrow Airport |
| Location: | London, England, United Kingdom |
| GPS Coordinates: | 51°28'38"N by 0°27'41"W |
| Area Served: | London, United Kingdom |
| Operator/Owner: | Heathrow Airport Holdings |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 83 feet (25 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LHR |
| More Information: | LHR Maps & Info |
Facts about San Diego International Airport (SAN):
- The furthest airport from San Diego International Airport (SAN) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,540 miles (18,571 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Aircraft do not land at the end of the runway as at most airports, but at a displaced threshold.
- Lindbergh Field does not have standard 1,000 ft runway safety areas at the end of each runway.
- The airport was the first federally certified airfield to serve all aircraft types, including seaplanes.
- Because of San Diego International Airport's relatively low elevation of 17 feet, planes can take off or land at San Diego International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The closest airport to San Diego International Airport (SAN) is NAS North Island (NZY), which is located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) SSW of SAN.
- In February 2008, San Diego International Airport was one of the first major airports in the U.S.
- In addition to being known as "San Diego International Airport", another name for SAN is "Lindbergh Field".
- San Diego International Airport's expansion program, dubbed "The Green Build", is expected to help the airport meet current and future travel demands.
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) currently has only 1 runway.
Facts about London Heathrow Airport (LHR):
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has 2 runways.
- Because of London Heathrow Airport's relatively low elevation of 83 feet, planes can take off or land at London Heathrow Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Terminal 1 opened in 1968 and was formally inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1969.
- The closest airport to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is RAF Northolt (NHT), which is located only 6 miles (9 kilometers) NNE of LHR.
- As the airport is west of London and as its runways run east–west, an airliner's landing approach is usually directly over the conurbation of London when the wind is from the west.
- Heathrow Airport is used by over 90 airlines flying to 170 destinations worldwide.
- The furthest airport from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is Chatham Islands (CHT), which is located 11,875 miles (19,112 kilometers) away in Waitangi, Chatham Islands, New Zealand.
- Policing of the airport is the responsibility of the aviation security unit of the Metropolitan Police, although the army, including armoured vehicles of the Household Cavalry, has occasionally been deployed at the airport during periods of heightened security.
- The original 1950s red-brick control tower was demolished in early 2013 to enable access roads for the new Terminal 2 to be laid.
