JNB
Johannesburg
South Africa
16,833 km
10,459 miles
MER
Atwater
United States
Distance
16,833 km
10,459 mi / 9,089 nm
Est. Flight Time
21h
Ultra-long-haul route
Time Difference
-10h
Africa/Johannesburg
Heading
301°
west northwest

Airport Comparison

JNB MER
Airport Name O. R. Tambo International Airport Castle Airport
IATA Code JNB MER
ICAO Code FAOR KMER
City Johannesburg Atwater
Country South Africa United States
Timezone Africa/Johannesburg America/Los_Angeles
Elevation 5,558 ft 190 ft
Coordinates -26.130000, 28.240000 37.400000, -120.600000

Johannesburg (JNB) to Atwater (MER) Flight Distance

The flight distance from O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa to Castle Airport (MER) in Atwater, United States is 16,833 kilometers (10,459 miles / 9,089 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 21h, flying west northwest at a heading of 301°.

This is an ultra-long-haul route, one of the longest in aviation. It requires wide-body aircraft with extended range capability such as the Airbus A350-900ULR or Boeing 777-200LR. Passengers should prepare for an extended flight with multiple meal services.

This is an international route connecting South Africa with United States. It is an intercontinental flight between Africa and North America. Travelers should check visa requirements, customs regulations, and any travel advisories before booking.

Time zone information: When it's 12:28 in Johannesburg, it's 02:28 in Atwater. With a 10-hour time difference, travelers should plan for significant jet lag. It typically takes one day per hour of time difference to fully adjust.

There is a significant elevation difference of 5,368 feet between the two airports. Castle Airport sits lower than O. R. Tambo International Airport. Travelers arriving at the higher-elevation airport should be aware of potential altitude effects.

The return flight from Atwater (MER) to Johannesburg (JNB) follows a heading of 76° (east northeast). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

For more information about these airports, visit the O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Castle Airport (MER) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.

Calculate Flight Time Between Airports

Use our flight time calculator to find distances and estimated flight travel times between cities. Calculate flight duration for any airport pair worldwide.