Discover the Most Turbulent Flight Paths in North America and Beyond
Explore the top turbulent flight routes in 2025, highlighting key airports like Denver and Salt Lake City, and learn how airlines like Singapore Airlines and Southwest Airlines are adapting their in-flight services to enhance passenger safety.
Highlights You Should Know
- In 2024, eight out of the ten most turbulent North American flight routes involved Denver or Salt Lake City, based on data from Turbli, a specialized turbulence forecasting tool.
- Analyzing approximately 10,000 global flight routes, Turbli identified the Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile route as the most turbulent worldwide, with moderate turbulence levels.
- Airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Southwest Airlines have recently updated their cabin service protocols to better manage turbulence-related challenges and improve passenger safety.
If turbulence makes you uneasy, consider steering clear of flights near the Rocky Mountains.
According to Turbli’s analysis of flight track data from 2024, the Mendoza to Santiago route registered an average eddy dissipation rate (EDR) of 24.684, indicating moderate turbulence over the 122-mile journey. Notably, six of the ten most turbulent global routes involved either Mendoza or Santiago.
In North America, the most turbulent route last year was from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Denver, Colorado, with an average EDR of 17.751 for the nearly 350-mile flight. Four of the five most turbulent routes in the region included Denver, often called the “Mile High City.”
Howard Diamond, Director of the Atmospheric Sciences and Modeling Division at NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory, notes a 55% global increase in clear air turbulence over the past 40 years. He predicts that turbulence frequency in 2025 will likely mirror 2024 levels, although specific route conditions vary due to multiple factors.
Airlines Adjust Flight Attendant Services to Enhance Safety
In response to turbulence-related incidents, some airlines have revised their in-flight service procedures to prioritize passenger safety.
For instance, after a severe turbulence event on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore in May 2024—which resulted in one fatality and over 100 injuries—the airline reassessed its turbulence management protocols. Following a safety review, Singapore Airlines reinstated standard in-flight services on August 1, with pilots empowered to suspend or continue service based on real-time weather and operational assessments. Notably, hot beverages and soups are no longer served when the seat belt sign is illuminated.
Similarly, Southwest Airlines recently updated its cabin service policy by suspending service at 18,000 feet instead of the previous 10,000 feet threshold. A spokesperson emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains Southwest’s highest priority.
Note: This article includes the latest statements from Singapore Airlines regarding their turbulence protocols.
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