Free tool
Flight time from Shanghai to Nairobi
About 12 hours and 10 minutes non-stop, 9,597 km (5,963 miles), with your local arrival time and the time difference.
Estimate for a direct flight from Shanghai (PVG, Pudong) to Nairobi (NBO, Jomo Kenyatta). Change the departure time below to see your local arrival time.
How long is the flight from Shanghai to Nairobi?
A non-stop flight from Shanghai to Nairobi takes about 12 hours and 10 minutes. The two cities are 9,597 km (5,963 miles) apart in a straight line, measured between Pudong (PVG) and Jomo Kenyatta (NBO).
This is a long-haul route. If there is no direct flight on your dates, a connection through a hub usually adds 2–6 hours to the journey.
The estimate assumes an average speed of about 830 km/h plus around 35 minutes for taxiing, take-off and landing. Real schedules vary with the airline, aircraft, route and winds – heading west into the jet stream, flights often take a little longer than this. Check your booking for the exact time.
Time difference and arrival time
Nairobi is 5 hours behind Shanghai right now. A flight leaving Shanghai at 10:00 local time lands at about 17:10 local time in Nairobi. With a 5h shift, expect some jet lag: as a rough guide the body adjusts by about an hour a day, and flying west (as on this trip) is usually easier than the other way.
Current time in Shanghai · Current time in Nairobi · Flight time from Nairobi to Shanghai
More flights from Shanghai
- Shanghai to Seoul 1h 35m
- Shanghai to Beijing 1h 55m
- Shanghai to Hong Kong 2h 5m
- Shanghai to Tokyo 2h 40m
- Shanghai to Manila 2h 50m
- Shanghai to Hanoi 2h 55m
- Shanghai to New York 14h 55m
- Shanghai to Mexico City 16h 5m
- Shanghai to Miami 16h 35m
- Shanghai to Cancún 16h 50m
More flights from Nairobi
- Nairobi to Johannesburg 4h 5m
- Nairobi to Doha 4h 35m
- Nairobi to Cairo 4h 50m
- Nairobi to Dubai 4h 50m
- Nairobi to Mumbai 6h 5m
- Nairobi to Athens 6h 5m
- Nairobi to Auckland 17h 20m
- Nairobi to Vancouver 17h 55m
- Nairobi to Mexico City 18h 25m
- Nairobi to San Francisco 19h 10m
Why arrival times look strange
Airline schedules always show local times: departure in the departure city’s time and arrival in the arrival city’s time. Fly east and you “lose” hours – a 7-hour flight from New York to London leaving at 19:00 lands at 07:00 the next morning. Fly west and you gain them, which is how you can land in Los Angeles almost at the same clock time you left Tokyo. This calculator handles the time zones and daylight saving time for you.
How the flight time estimate works
In estimate mode the calculator measures the great-circle distance between the two cities – the shortest route over the Earth’s surface – and assumes an average speed of about 830 km/h (515 mph), plus around 35 minutes for taxiing, take-off and landing. That gives a good guide for a non-stop flight. Real schedules vary with the airline, aircraft, winds and route: flights heading east with the jet stream are often quicker than the same trip heading west, so always check your booking for the exact time.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Shanghai to Nairobi?
A direct flight from Shanghai to Nairobi takes about 12 hours and 10 minutes. This is an estimate based on the distance; airline schedules can be shorter or longer depending on the route and winds.
How far is Nairobi from Shanghai?
The straight-line (great-circle) distance between Shanghai and Nairobi is about 9,597 km, or 5,963 miles.
What is the time difference between Shanghai and Nairobi?
Nairobi is 5 hours behind Shanghai at the moment.