What Is Block Time?

Block time is the time from when an aircraft leaves the gate to when it stops at the destination gate. It is longer than the time in the air because it includes taxiing.

Block time vs flight time

Flight time (airborne time) runs from takeoff to landing. Block time adds the taxi out before takeoff and the taxi in after landing. If an aircraft is airborne for 1 hour 30 minutes and taxis for 12 minutes at each end, the block time is about 1 hour 54 minutes.

Why airlines use it

Schedules are built on block times, because passengers and crew spend that whole time on duty or on board. Crew duty limits, aircraft rotations and gate plans all use block time.

Padding

Many airlines add a buffer to block times so that small delays do not make flights late. That is why a flight can arrive “early” compared with the schedule, and why published times may be longer than the actual flying time.

What you can estimate

On this site, route pages show an estimated flight time based on distance. It is only an estimate; actual block times are set by the airline. See OOOI and block time in the glossary.

General information only, not legal or safety advice. Details change; check with your airline and the relevant authority. See our editorial policy.