Compare: New York→Tokyo (10,852 km) vs New York→London (5,570 km). New York → London wins by 5,282 km (49%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
10,852 km
6,743 miles · Flight: ~14h 4min
5,570 km
3,461 miles · Flight: ~7h 28min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 5,282 km (49%) · Flight time difference: ~6h 36min
Verdict
New York → London is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 5,282 km (49%) shorter, saves about 6h 36min of flight time, and cuts roughly 1,347 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose New York → Tokyo only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
New York → London is the shorter route at 5,570 km, which is 5,282 km (49%) shorter than New York → Tokyo. You would save approximately 6h 36min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → Tokyo | New York → London |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 10,852 | 5,570 |
| Distance (miles) | 6,743 | 3,461 |
| Flight time | ~14h 4min | ~7h 28min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 333° (NNW) | 51° (NE) |
| Time-zone shift | +13h | +5h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~2,767 kg | ~1,420 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from New York to Tokyo produces roughly 2,767 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The New York → London flight emits about 1,420 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 1,347 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 64 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The New York to Tokyo route covers 10,852 km (6,743 miles), crossing from North America to Asia. New York (population: 8,336,817) is located in Northeast, United States, while Tokyo (population: 13,960,000) is in Kanto, Japan.
The New York to London route covers 5,570 km (3,461 miles), spanning from North America to Europe. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
Flying from New York to Tokyo takes approximately 14h 4min, while New York to London takes 7h 28min.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Tokyo and London as a destination.
The 5,282 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Neither route has a road figure we can defend. There is no continuous road connection between New York and Tokyo — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport. There is no continuous road connection between New York and London — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
Tokyo (Japan) has a population of 13,960,000 and is located in the Kanto region of Asia. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
London (United Kingdom) has a population of 8,982,000 and is situated in England, Europe. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Tokyo (Japan) — a city of 13,960,000 in the Kanto region of Asia. Despite being the longer of the two at 10,852 km, it makes sense when Tokyo itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 10,852 km. The initial bearing is 333° (NNW), so a great-circle flight leaves New York heading roughly NNW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to London (United Kingdom) — a city of 8,982,000 in the England region of Europe. It is also the shorter of the two at 5,570 km, saving about 6h 36min of flying and around 1,347 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Overland travel is not practical for 5,570 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing New York, the great-circle bearing toward London is 51° (NE).
New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → Tokyo (35.68°, 139.65°): New York keeps America/New_York time and Tokyo keeps Asia/Tokyo time — a gap of about 13 hours, with Tokyo ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → London (51.51°, -0.13°): New York keeps America/New_York time and London keeps Europe/London time — a gap of about 5 hours, with London ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Both gaps come from the cities' real IANA zones and move with daylight saving. Shifts of 5 hours or more typically produce noticeable jet lag — plan one recovery day per three time zones crossed.
London is closer at 5,570 km, which is 5,282 km (49%) shorter.
10,852 km (6,743 miles). Flight: ~14h 4min.
5,570 km (3,461 miles). Flight: ~7h 28min.
Flying to London is faster at ~7h 28min, saving about 6h 36min compared to Tokyo.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.