Worst Flight Routes for Turbulence in the World
Airlines do their best to avoid turbulence, and the incidents of turbulence are much lesser than once they were. Though turbulence is unavoidable sometimes, there are certain routes which are more susceptible as compared to others. Here is a list of the worst flight routes for turbulence in the world.
Not everyone enjoys turbulence. Passengers understand that turbulences are not specifically dangerous; still, they provide an unpleasant experience. In many situations in the past, flight crew and even passengers have got injuries as a result of turbulence.
Worst Flight Routes for Turbulence
Whether you are planning to visit the most remote islands in the world or best place in Europe, turbulence are common during flight. Sudden change in the air in which a plane is flying is one of the major causes of turbulence. It mostly occurs in places where a warm and cold front meets or the places where larger objects present on the ground change the direction of airflow. Other circumstances include winds, jet streams, and thunderstorms. All these factors provide an idea about areas more prone to turbulence.
Seoul to Dallas
Seoul to Dallas is a route that might not be frequently traveled, but this one gives a bumpy ride. It is one of the worst flight routes for turbulence. One of the biggest culprits for turbulence is on this route; the planes have to fly over a large body of water. Moreover, the air pockets are more frequent on this route.
According to the University of Reading, there is a rise of 149% in the turbulence on the route as a result of climate change. The climate changes will lead to frequent air pockets, which will cause more turbulence.
New York to London
This is one of the worst flight routes for turbulence. Now the question is, what makes this flight route one of the worst areas for turbulence? One of the prime reasons is bad weather. New York faces many storms that cause turbulence. Other causes include rain, winds, and other potential causes for weather changes.
In fact, as a result of global climate change, the flights have been facing more turbulence. With the rise in choppy waters and warm air, the clear-air turbulence is also increasing.
London to Johannesburg
It is a long flight path that involves a long journey over a landmass. Various factors make this flight route the roughest. Though this path includes traversing a big swath of land, a lot of trans-oceanic travel is also involved.
The turbulence at this path is also induced by warm weather near the Equator. On the other hand, there is cool air and a naturally stormy climate in London, which further contributes to turbulence.
The climate of London, warm weather, the Atlantic, and Africa’s mountains are some of the factors responsible for the bumpiest flights on this route.
Anywhere to Hong Kong
It is one of the worst flight routes for turbulence. The high mountains flanking the airport of Hong Kong create pockets of turbulence. Other airports having the same structure as Gibraltar and St Helena also face the same issue. Moreover, the other factors contributing to turbulence include windy, rainy, and other uncertain weather conditions.
Flights Near the Equator
One thing that Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Hong Kong have in common is that they are situated around the Equator. Due to this reason, they are hotspots for hot weather. Adverse weather is one of the biggest causes of turbulence. Moreover, the contact between cold and warm air also causes this blustery issue.
Warm air is highly responsible for posing threats to planes, and one such concern is turbulence. Many of the most turbulence-stricken airports and routes are located in the areas near the Equator. Thunderstorms are another problem in these areas, which causes cabin-shaking experience.
London to Cape Town
There are various benefits of flying from London to Cape Town. First of all, it is a southern route, so there is no issue of jet lag to contend with. Nevertheless, the planes flying on this route have to cross the Equator, which makes it one of the worst flight routes for turbulence. Therefore, there is an intertropical convergence zone on this route, which means it is difficult to avoid turbulence when flying on this route.
Flights over Mountainous Regions
Rocky mountain terrains are one of the biggest reasons for turbulence. The reason is that they cause the air to be forced in an upward direction. Now the question is, which is the worst mountainous region for turbulence?
The flights that take the passengers over the Rocky Mountains in North America, the Andes in South America, and the Alps in Europe face a lot of turbulence. Moreover, the Pennines present in Northern England also falls on the list.
Flights into Monsoon and Hurricane Hotspots
Mumbai and Miami are located on different oceans and continents. Moreover, they are present in different hemispheres and opposite sides of the globe, but they are one of the worst turbulence areas.
The biggest reason for turbulence in these areas is hurricanes and monsoons. Moreover, the airport of both locations is in warm water areas. Other worst turbulence areas due to bad weather conditions include Singapore, Gulf of Mexico, Dallas, New Orleans, and much of Southeast Asia.
Trans-Asiatic Flights
Turbulence is caused by a wide range of reasons. Trans-Asiatic flights face much turbulence, and the major causes include rough water, mountainous areas, warm weather, and they are located near Equator. Staying within Asia during flight increases the chances of turbulence.
Trans-European Flights
Europe is home to weather and geographical weather conditions, which is another cause for turbulence. From the mountains to the Alps and from warm to cold fronts, Europe has it all, and they are the major causes of turbulence.
Final Words
Airlines are investing in various technologies in order to deal with the issues of turbulence. Industry bodies and manufacturers are working on new software and tools in order to identify and avoid turbulence. With their help, you might experience less turbulence on your next flight.
We have told you about the worst flight routes for turbulence. Let us know about your worst turbulence experience by dropping a comment.
