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San Pedro Sula to San Jose Flight Distance

Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)

Short HaulSoutheast (146°)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...

451
Miles
726
Kilometers
392
Nautical miles
1h 21m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale726 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

SAP
Origin
Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
15.4526°, -87.9236°
SJO
Destination
Juan Santamaria International Airport
San Jose, Costa Rica
9.9939°, -84.2088°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 451 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 1h 21m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: San Jose is 0 hours ahead of San Pedro Sula. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 185 kg of CO2. This is relatively low for air travel.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)451 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)726 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)392 nmAviation standard
Flight Time1h 21mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction146° SESoutheast
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)185 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)537 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)741 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset17Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger22 L~3,960 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this southeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 185 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 17 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
SAP
DEPARTURE

Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport

San Pedro Sula, Honduras

IATA / ICAO
SAP / MHLM
Elevation
91 ft (28 m)
Local Time
12:49 PM
GMT-6
Coordinates
15.4526°, -87.9236°
View full airport details
SJO
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Juan Santamaria International Airport

San Jose, Costa Rica

IATA / ICAO
SJO / MROC
Elevation
3,021 ft (921 m)
Local Time
12:49 PM
GMT-6
Coordinates
9.9939°, -84.2088°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between San Pedro Sula and San Jose.

AV
Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia
AVIANCA
CM
Copa Airlines
Panama

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
Southeast
Initial bearing: 146°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
22 L per passenger
~3,960 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
12° 43' 46.9" N
12.7297°
Longitude
86° 2' 46.3" W
-86.0462°
Halfway Point
226 mi
41 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
185 kg
CO2e: 352 kg
Premium Economy
296 kg
CO2e: 563 kg
Business
537 kg
CO2e: 1020 kg
First Class
741 kg
CO2e: 1407 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 17 trees.Equivalent to 7 weeks of average household electricity

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
0 hours
Flying noneward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the left (east/north) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on southbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
1.8% of Earth's circumference
2
Similar to Berlin to Vienna (524 km)
3
0.6 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles451 mi
Kilometers726 km
Nautical Miles392 nm
Meters726,000 m
Feet2,381,280 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)1h 21m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)9 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 726 km between San Pedro Sula and San Jose at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h1h 21m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h1h 27m
Bullet Train320 km/h2h 16m
Car (highway)100 km/h7h 16m
Walking5 km/h145h (6 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h0h 35m

Round Trip Summary

902
total miles
1,452
total km
2h 42m
total flight time
370
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: SJO to SAP

Quick Facts

Distance451 mi
Flight Time1h 21m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionSE
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)185 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is San Pedro Sula from San Jose?

The flight distance from Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is 451 miles (726 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 1h 21m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

San Jose is 0 hours ahead of San Pedro Sula.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia, Copa Airlines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 185 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 537 kg. First class: 741 kg. Offset with ~17 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Southeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from San Pedro Sula to San Jose instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 726 km, it would take approximately 9 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 1h 21m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 185 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 17 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