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Paris to Houston Flight Distance

Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) to George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (IAH)

Long HaulWest-Northwest (296°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

5,026
Miles
8,089
Kilometers
4,368
Nautical miles
10h 21m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale8,089 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

CDG
Origin
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
Paris, France
49.0128°, 2.5500°
IAH
Destination
George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport
Houston, United States
29.9844°, -95.3414°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 5,026 miles, this long-haul flight will take approximately 10h 21m. Plan for a substantial flight with meals, entertainment, and rest time.

Time Adjustment: Houston is 7 hours behind Paris. Plan for moderate jet lag—give yourself 5 days to adjust before important activities.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 1213 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs—planting 110 trees could offset this flight.

Flight Options: 3 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)5,026 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)8,089 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)4,368 nmAviation standard
Flight Time10h 21mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationLONG HAULLong-haul flight (4,000 - 12,000 km)
Flight Direction296° WNWWest-Northwest
Cruising Altitude41,000 ftFL410 (12,497 m)
Time Difference-7hJet lag: moderate
CO2 (Economy)1213 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)3519 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)4853 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset110Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger243 L~43,740 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines3Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 2-3 months ahead for best prices on this long-haul route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this west-northwest flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Start adjusting your sleep 2-3 days before departure. Move bedtime later gradually.
Pack Smart
Pack compression socks, eye mask, and entertainment for this long journey.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 1213 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 110 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
CDG
DEPARTURE

Charles de Gaulle International Airport

Paris, France

IATA / ICAO
CDG / LFPG
Elevation
392 ft (119 m)
Local Time
09:58 PM
GMT+2
Coordinates
49.0128°, 2.5500°
View full airport details
IAH
ARRIVAL-7h from departure

George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport

Houston, United States

IATA / ICAO
IAH / KIAH
Elevation
97 ft (30 m)
Local Time
02:58 PM
GMT-5
Coordinates
29.9844°, -95.3414°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

3 airlines operate flights between Paris and Houston.

AF
Air France
France
AZ
Alitalia
Italy
DL
Delta Air Lines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
41,000 ft (12,497 m)
FL410
Flight Direction
West-Northwest
Initial bearing: 296°
Route Type
Long-haul flight (4,000 - 12,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Boeing 777Airbus A350Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Fuel Consumption
243 L per passenger
~43,740 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
This route crosses the Prime Meridian (0° longitude)
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. This route crosses from the Eastern to the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
51° 6' 20.9" N
51.1058°
Longitude
55° 24' 31.8" W
-55.4088°
Halfway Point
2,513 mi
311 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
1213 kg
CO2e: 2305 kg
Premium Economy
1941 kg
CO2e: 3689 kg
Business
3519 kg
CO2e: 6686 kg
First Class
4853 kg
CO2e: 9221 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 110 trees.Equivalent to 2.3 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
moderate
Recovery time: ~5 days
Time Zone Change
7 hours back
Flying westward
Tips for This Journey
  • Start adjusting sleep schedule several days before travel
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeine during the flight
  • Take short naps (20-30 min) if needed
  • Westward travel: stay awake until local bedtime

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the left (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Right window for views away from sun glare, left for warmth. For this long flight, consider an aisle seat for easier movement.

Distance in Perspective

1
20.2% of Earth's circumference
2
48 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to London to Tokyo (9,571 km)
4
6.5 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles5,026 mi
Kilometers8,089 km
Nautical Miles4,368 nm
Meters8,089,000 m
Feet26,537,280 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)10h 21m

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 8,089 km between Paris and Houston at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h10h 21m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h16h 11m
Bullet Train320 km/h25h 17m
Car (highway)100 km/h80h 53m
Walking5 km/h1,618h (67 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h6h 33m

Round Trip Summary

10,052
total miles
16,178
total km
20h 42m
total flight time
2,426
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: IAH to CDG

Quick Facts

Distance5,026 mi
Flight Time10h 21m
Route Typelong haul
DirectionWNW
AltitudeFL410
Time Diff-7h
CO2 (Economy)1213 kg
Airlines3

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Paris from Houston?

The flight distance from Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) to George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (IAH) is 5,026 miles (8,089 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 10h 21m. This is a long-haul flight typically cruising at 41,000 feet (FL410).

What is the time difference?

Houston is 7 hours behind Paris. Expect moderate jet lag with ~5 days recovery time.

What airlines fly this route?

3 airlines operate this route: Air France, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 1213 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 3519 kg. First class: 4853 kg. Offset with ~110 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this West-Northwest flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare. Consider an aisle seat for easier movement on this long flight.

Can I drive from Paris to Houston instead of flying?

Driving is not practical for this 8,089 km distance, especially across international borders. It would theoretically take over 101 hours of driving. Flying at 10h 21m is the recommended option.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This long-haul route is typically served by Boeing 777, Airbus A350, Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Wide-body aircraft are standard for this distance, offering more comfort for the longer journey.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 1213 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 110 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route