The World's Most Turbulent Flight Routes: What You Need To Know

Flying can be a bumpy ride, and for some routes, turbulence is a constant companion. As air travel continues to grow in popularity, understanding where and why turbulence occurs is crucial for both frequent flyers and aviation professionals. Certain flight routes are notoriously more turbulent, often due to their unique geographic and meteorological conditions.

According to data from Turbli, a Swedish turbulence forecasting site, the most turbulent routes in 2023 included Santiago, Chile to Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Almaty, Kazakhstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Lanzhou to Chengdu, China; Centrair to Sendai, Japan; and Milan, Italy to Geneva, Switzerland.

The Impact Turbulence Has On Air Travel

Turbulence can pose significant challenges for pilots, flight crews, and passengers. For pilots, managing turbulence requires constant vigilance and skill. According to Dr. Guido Carim Jr., head of Griffith Aviation at Griffith University, clear air turbulence caused by sudden changes in wind direction can occur anywhere and without warning, making it particularly challenging to predict and navigate.

Speaking with The Guardian, the former pilot said: “Magnificently complex factors interact to create turbulence. Radar technology to detect turbulence is improving but, despite all the instruments onboard, we cannot accurately predict where and when turbulence will be.”

Severe turbulence can be frightening and, in some cases, dangerous for passengers. Recent incidents highlight this risk. A Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin encountered turbulence above Turkey, injuring 12 passengers and crew. Similarly, a Singapore Airlines flight faced severe turbulence above Myanmar, resulting in one fatality and injuries to 104 passengers.

The Full List Of The Most Turbulent Flight Routes

Turbulence commonly occurs over high mountains, oceans, near the equator, and at the boundaries of jet streams. For example, the Santiago-Santa Cruz route’s turbulence is generated by Pacific Ocean winds flowing almost perpendicular to the Andes. Similarly, Japan experiences high mountain- and ocean-induced turmoil due to its geography and weather patterns. Below is the complete list of the bumpiest flight routes around the world.

1. Santiago (SCL) – Santa Cruz (VVI)
2. Almaty (ALA) – Bishkek (FRU)
3. Lanzhou (LHW) – Chengdu (CTU)
4. Centrair (NGO) – Sendai (SDJ)
5. Milan (MXP) – Geneva (GVA)
6. Lanzhou (LHW) – Xianyang (XIY)
7. Osaka (KIX) – Sendai (SDJ)
8. Xianyang (XIY) – Chengdu (CTU)
9. Xianyang (XIY) – Chongqing (CKG)
10. Milan (MXP) – Zurich (ZRH)