Los Angeles to Tokyo: what the LAX to HND corridor looks like
- Departure
- Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, the United States
- Arrival
- Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan
- Great-circle distance
- 8,813 km (4,759 nm)
- Typical airborne time
- 10h 45m
- Usual cruise levels
- FL340 to FL400
- Initial track
- northwest bound
Route overview
The LAX to HND sector connects Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, the United States, with Tokyo Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Measured along the great circle the two airports are 8,813 km apart, roughly 4,759 nautical miles, which is close to 10h 45m in the air before winds and routing are taken into account. The initial track is northwest bound, and the middle of the route sits in subtropical latitudes.
The East Asian jet stream
Along the way the track passes over the open Atlantic and the open Pacific. The East Asian jet stream dominates the winds along this track. Its core is narrow and its position moves day to day, which is why dispatchers replan the route each cycle. Clear air turbulence sits at the edges of that core, and the WAFS forecast shows where it is expected before the flight departs.
Cruise altitudes on this sector
Long haul crews normally start cruise around FL340, then step climb toward FL380 or FL400 as the aircraft burns off fuel and can hold a higher level. Choice of level matters because turbulence is layered: a change of two or three thousand feet often puts the aircraft into calmer air, and that is one of the first adjustments a crew will request.
Seasonal pattern
The East Asian jet stream peaks in winter and weakens through the summer, so late summer and early autumn sectors are usually the smoothest on this corridor.
Flying this route with less worry
It is worth remembering that turbulence of the kind found on the LAX to HND track is uncomfortable and entirely within what the aircraft is built for. Wings are designed to flex, the flight is planned around the forecast, and the crew adjusts level or track when it helps. The live forecast above shows the current picture for this corridor so there are fewer surprises on the day.