The flight distance from Mbala Airport (MMQ) in Mbala, Zambia to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica is 12,956 kilometers (8,050 miles / 6,996 nautical miles). The estimated flight time for this route is approximately 16h, flying west at a heading of 277°.

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 Zambia with Costa Rica. 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 23:02 in Mbala, it's 15:02 in San Jose. With a 8-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 2,433 feet between the two airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport sits lower than Mbala Airport. Travelers arriving at the higher-elevation airport should be aware of potential altitude effects.

The return flight from San Jose (SJO) to Mbala (MMQ) follows a heading of 95° (east). Actual flight times may vary depending on wind conditions, air traffic, and the specific aircraft used.

For more information about these airports, visit the Mbala Airport (MMQ) and Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) detail pages, or use our flight duration calculator to compare other routes.