European routes among the most turbulent flights in the world

The world’s most turbulent flight routes have been revealed. Several European flights are founded on the top ten list according to a new report.

Turbulence during a flight can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned air travelers. Turbulence is usually nothing to worry about. However, there are routes with more intense and heavy turbulence, where the sudden shift in airflow can create risky situations in the cabin.

What is turbulence?

Turbulence occurs when air currents suddenly change abruptly, creating sharp, rapid ups and downs and unexpected movements in the aircraft.

While most air travelers have experienced mild turbulence, severe turbulence is far rarer. Some figures put the number of flights affected by severe turbulence at one flight in 50,000.

Conditions caused by global warming mean we may experience more turbulence in the future. According to data taken over the past 16 years by the Federal Aviation Administration, the average number of injuries related to severe turbulence per year in the United States is 33.

The most common form of turbulence is called clear air turbulence (CAT).

Clear air turbulence occurs in the upper air levels of the atmosphere due to jet streams. Jet streams are narrow bands of fast flowing winds around five to seven miles above Earth’s surface. Jet streams trigger sudden changes in wind speed, which can create strong vibrations in the aircraft.

Clear air turbulence can be particularly intense, as it often occurs unexpectedly and often without warning. That is why it is important to have your seat belt fastened – even if not required. Especially if you are traveling on one of the flight routes that are hardest hit by turbulence.

Which flight routes are hardest hit by turbulence?

The website Turbli , which both predicts and records turbulence, has analyzed around 150,000 routes. The study shows the most turbulent flight routes in 2023. The routes are ranked by”eddy dissipation rate “, which Turbli founder, Ignacio Gallego Marcos, describes as “the measure of turbulence intensity at a given location”.

The absolute most turbulent flight route in the world is the journey between Santiago and Viru Viru International airport in Bolivia. As such, it is not a surprise as the route crosses the Andes. When flying over a mountain at high speed, “mountain waves” occur, which can cause the aircraft to gain and lose altitude.

The route between Almaty in Kazakhstan and the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is the second most turbulent flight in the world. It is known to be one of the most uncomfortable flights in the world. Last year, seven people were injured during a particularly turbulent journey.

Six of the most turbulent journeys were domestic routes in Japan and China – four of these routes departed or landed in Lanzhou, Chengdu and Xianyang.

Two European routes were also among the ten most turbulent flights in the world. Milan to Geneva is the most turbulent route in Europe – and fifth most turbulent in the world in 2023 – while Milan to Zurich came in tenth.

The 10 most turbulent flight routes in the world, according to Turbli:

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 (BVT)
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)

The 10 most turbulent flight routes in Europe, according to Turbli:

1. Milan (MXP) – Geneva (BVT)
2. Milan (MXP) – Zurich (ZRH)
3. Geneva (BVT) – Zurich (ZRH)
4. Marseille (MRS) – Zurich (ZRH)
5. Zgornji Brnik (LJU) – Zurich (ZRH)
6. Nice (NCE) – Basel (BSL)
7. Nice (NCE) – Zurich (ZRH)
8. Yerevan (EVN) – Tbilisi (TBS)
9. Basel (BSL) – Venice (VCE)
10. Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – Caselle Torinese (TRN)

Read also the ten most popular travel destinations this winter, according to Airbnb.