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SFO to JAF: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Jaffna (Kankesanturai Airport)
8,854 mi
14,249 km · 7,694 nm
17h 50m
estimated nonstop flight time
+12.5h
time difference · heading northwest
See live SFO→JAF fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
8,854 miles nonstop takes roughly 17h 50m gate to gate, flying northwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 12.5-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- JAF — Kankesanturai Airport · Jaffna, Sri Lanka
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 SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Near JAF
- TJV · Tanjore Air Force Base92 mi away
- ACJ · Anuradhapura Air Force Base106 mi away
- TRZ · Tiruchirapally Civil Airport Airport114 mi away
- TRR · China Bay Airport115 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from JAF?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Jaffna (JAF) is 8,854 miles (14,249 km, 7,694 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to JAF?
A nonstop flight takes about 17h 50m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Jaffna?
Jaffna is 12.5 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to JAF?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–JAF that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.