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LUA to RDU: distance & flight time
Lukla (Lukla Airport) → Raleigh-durham (Raleigh Durham International Airport)
7,945 mi
12,786 km · 6,904 nm
16h 3m
estimated nonstop flight time
-9.7h
time difference · heading north
See live LUA→RDU fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
7,945 miles nonstop takes roughly 16h 3m gate to gate, flying north. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 9.7-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- LUA — Lukla Airport · Lukla, Nepal
- RDU — Raleigh Durham International Airport · Raleigh-durham, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near LUA
- SYH · Syangboche Airport9 mi away
- PPL · Phaplu Airport15 mi away
- RUM · Rumjatar Airport29 mi away
- LDN · Lamidanda Airport30 mi away
Near RDU
- POB · Pope Field50 mi away
- RWI · Rocky Mount Wilson Regional Airport50 mi away
- FBG · Simmons Army Air Field52 mi away
- SOP · Moore County Airport56 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is LUA from RDU?
The flight distance from Lukla (LUA) to Raleigh-durham (RDU) is 7,945 miles (12,786 km, 6,904 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from LUA to RDU?
A nonstop flight takes about 16h 3m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from LUA to RDU?
Nonstop service on LUA–RDU depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 16h 3m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Lukla and Raleigh-durham?
Raleigh-durham is 9.7 hours behind Lukla.
What is the cheapest way to fly from LUA to RDU?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on LUA–RDU that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some LUA to RDU fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain LUA–RDU tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.