The 10 most turbulent flight routes in the world in 2025

If you think you've experienced a bumpy flight, it might be nothing compared to what's coming. According to research by Turbli, the 10 most turbulent flight routes in the world for 2025 reveal just how severe turbulence can be. These routes are all located across two continents and four countries, and all involve flying at high altitudes.

Turbulence is measured by the Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), which describes the intensity of turbulence regardless of the characteristics of the aircraft. This means that the same level of turbulence can feel different depending on the size and structure of the plane. Here is the list of the most turbulent routes for 2025.

Tenth on the list is the route from San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile. This route, with a flight time of just two hours, is likely turbulent due to its crossing of the Andes Mountains. Dramatic changes in terrain height, especially mountains, create eddies, which are swirls that disrupt airflow. The route recorded an average EDR of 18.475, with 0-20 considered light turbulence. This route is one of four on the list that includes Santiago as one of its stops and is one of five routes in South America.

Ninth is the route from Chengdu to Xining in China, with a flight time of nearly 14 hours, passing over rugged mountainous terrain, and an average EDR of 18.482. Eighth is the route from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Paro, Bhutan, a route known for turbulence, mainly because the Himalayas stretch below the flight path. This route has a flight time of just over an hour and an average EDR of 18.563. Following closely behind is the route from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Santiago, Chile, with a flight time of about 3 hours and an average EDR of 18.598, also crossing the Andes Mountains.

Sixth is the route from Chengdu to Lhasa in China, which gained notoriety earlier this year when passengers recorded the extreme turbulence encountered mid-air. With a flight time of just over 2 hours, it traverses the high mountainous regions of southern China and has an average EDR of 18.644. Fifth is the route from Kathmandu to Lhasa, with a flight time of 2 hours and an average EDR of 18.817. Fourth is the route from Mendoza, Argentina, to San Carlos de Bariloche, with a flight time of less than 2 hours, and an average EDR of 19.252, flying along the Andes Mountains.

Third is the route from Mendoza to Salta, Argentina, also flying along the Andes Mountains, with a flight time of less than 2 hours and an average EDR of 19.825. Second is the route from Cordoba, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile, which requires planes to fly over the Andes Mountains, passing through Mendoza and the Argentina-Chile border, with a flight time of only one and a half hours and an average EDR of 20.214. Unsurprisingly, the route connecting Mendoza and Santiago is the most turbulent route in the world for 2025, with an average EDR of 24.684, a full 4 points higher than the second-place route. Crossing the Andes Mountains, high altitudes, and unpredictable winds make the flight extremely bumpy, but luckily, the flight time is only an hour, so there is not too long to endure.