Buckle up – you’re about to embark on the world’s bumpiest rides. From the Andes’ treacherous winds to Rockies’ wild and unpredictable air, these are the most turbulent flight routes of 2024, ranked using historical data from turbulence forecast tool, Turbli. For nervous flyers, seasoned travellers or aviation geeks, here’s your essential guide to the skies that never stay still.
Click through this gallery to discover the world's 21 most turbulent flight routes...
Though just 100 miles (161km) and under an hour, the domestic flight between Californian cities Ontario and San Diego (pictured) is often more turbulent than expected.
Santa Ana winds funnel through mountain passes like San Gorgonio at high speeds, while the collision of cool coastal air with hot inland temperatures creates unstable conditions that can leave passengers gripping their armrests.
The flight from Bozeman, Montana (pictured) to Denver, Colorado ranks as the fifth most turbulent in the US, thanks to the rugged terrain of the Rockies.
The final approach into Denver International, a high-altitude airport beside the mountains, is notorious for sudden wind shifts – one of the key reasons Denver features multiple times on this list.
Continuing Denver’s turbulent trend, the flight to Salt Lake City, Utah (pictured) puts pilots through another rough ride. The route crosses the Rockies westward, where mountain wave turbulence is especially fierce, and strong winds sweeping over the peaks generate powerful air currents that can jolt aircraft throughout the 1.5-hour journey.
Adding to Salt Lake City’s reputation for rough skies, the flight from Jackson, Wyoming (pictured) is the third most turbulent route in the US. Like other routes into the Utah city, it’s affected by mountain wave turbulence – strong, rolling air currents that become especially intense during winter.
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This domestic US flight from Denver, Colorado (yes, Denver again) to Jackson, Wyoming is another Rocky Mountain gauntlet. The approach into Jackson can be especially lively in winter, with wind shear and sudden drops making for a dramatic descent.
Departing from the subtropical megacity of Chongqing, China (pictured), this domestic flight traverses a dramatic rise in elevation. The thinner air at altitude, coupled with mountainous terrain and fast-changing weather patterns, make it consistently turbulent – and the first of several routes on this list that involve Lhasa.
Covering roughly 407 miles (655km), this domestic flight from Natori to Osaka (pictured) takes passengers along Japan’s eastern coastline – where shifting weather systems and seasonal jet streams often stir up turbulence. The route is particularly susceptible to strong crosswinds, especially in winter and during typhoon season.
This high-altitude domestic flight from Kunming, in China’s Yunnan Province (pictured), climbs rapidly into thinner air. The approach to Lhasa is especially challenging, and weather here is unpredictable year-round, making this one of the bumpiest routes into Tibet.
Denver makes another appearance, this time with the flight in from Albuquerque, New Mexico (pictured). Lasting just over an hour, it's the most turbulent route in the US, and infamous for the so-called 'Denver bump' – a jolt of powerful updrafts and downdrafts caused by winds striking the eastern face of the Rockies.
The 321-mile (517km) hop from Natori near Sendai to Tokoname near Nagoya (pictured) might seem like a quick domestic flight – but it’s often far from calm.
Skimming over Japan’s rugged interior and shifting coastal air currents, the route is notorious for sudden bumps, especially when seasonal weather patterns clash. It’s a short journey, but one that keeps passengers alert – and seatbelts firmly fastened.
This flight from Guiyang, in China’s subtropical Guizhou Province (pictured), ranks as Asia’s fifth most turbulent route – and marks yet another appearance for Lhasa on this list. A sharp rise in altitude, paired with strong crosswinds and mountain wave activity, makes this a scenic but reliably bumpy ride.
The flight from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina to Santiago, Chile (pictured) crosses the Andes – offering spectacular scenery and a bumpy ride. The approach into Santiago often involves flying through narrow valleys with unpredictable weather patterns that keep both pilots and passengers alert.
Both Chengdu and Xining are in China, but the 426-mile (685km) journey crosses dramatically different landscapes. A rapid shift in elevation combined with strong mountain winds makes clear-air turbulence a frequent companion on the route.
Pictured here, the descent into Xining offers a glimpse of the rugged terrain that contributes to the unpredictable flying conditions.
The short flight from Kathmandu in Nepal to Paro in Bhutan may cover just 250 miles (402km), but it’s the third most turbulent in Asia. Crossing the Himalayas, the route challenges pilots with steep descents, strong winds and rapidly shifting weather. Paro Airport itself is famously difficult to access (pictured), with only around 50 specially trained pilots authorised to land there.
This three hour cross-border flight from Santa Cruz in Bolivia (pictured) to Santiago in Chile takes travellers from the lowland tropics to the dramatic spine of the Andes. The journey involves a sharp change in altitude and weather patterns, making it prone to bouts of turbulence – particularly clear-air disturbances.
The 2.5-hour domestic Chinese flight from Chengdu (pictured) to Lhasa is yet another entry involving the turbulent skies over the Tibetan Plateau. This region is notorious for unpredictable storms, severe clear-air turbulence and rapidly shifting weather – all of which make the route a constant test for pilots.
This 1.5-hour route between Kathmandu in Nepal (pictured) and Lhasa in Tibet, is notorious for high-altitude jet streams, mountain-induced wind shear and rapidly changing weather conditions near Mount Everest. It’s also the final entry on this list featuring Lhasa – a destination that’s clearly no stranger to rough skies.
Pilots flying between Mendoza and San Carlos de Bariloche (pictured) in Argentina contend with both the windy plains of northern Patagonia and the rising terrain of the Andes.
The infamous 'Bariloche bump' is caused by strong mountain winds and abrupt changes in air pressure near the airport, often giving passengers a jolt as they descend into the region.
Although this 1.5-hour long flight from Mendoza (pictured) to Salta, stays in Argentinian territory, the 500 mile (805km) route encounters difficult terrain in the form of the Andes’ eastern edge.
Thermal turbulence from desert heat colliding with mountain air makes for a rough journey, particularly in summer when thermal drafts are strongest.
Pilots navigating this route from Córdoba, Argentina (pictured) to Santiago, Chile must grapple with the Andes’ notorious wind shear. While turbulence can rear its head all along the 550-mile (885km) route, it is the high-altitude pass near Aconcagua – the tallest peak in the Americas – that creates particularly chaotic air currents.
The flight between Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile (pictured) is the most turbulent route in the world, according to Turbli’s 2024 analysis. It crosses the Andes, where strong winds clash with rugged terrain, generating powerful mountain wave turbulence and dangerous rotor systems.
Mount Aconcagua adds to the challenge by disrupting airflow and causing sharp altitude changes, while the region’s hot, dry Zonda wind can further intensify the ride.
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