CTU to LHR Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Chengdu to London flight turbulent?

The CTU–LHR route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on CTU to LHR?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a 228, that's rows 20-30. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from CTU to LHR?

The CTU to LHR flight takes approximately 10h 30min.

Is the Chengdu to London flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

CTU

→

LHR

Chengdu · London · 10h 30min

Turb Score

10h 30min

Duration

5,162 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · No sign-up

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free on the App Store · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for CTU–LHR

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 30min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the CTU–LHR route

The Chengdu to London route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 38,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by Sichuan Airlines, British Airways on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,942 miles (5,162 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Turbulence levels on CTU–LHR

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store — Free

Best time to fly CTU–LHR

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on CTU–LHR

228

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20-30

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 31+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

See all transatlantic flights →

Passenger Reports

Flew this in January expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · January

The on descent section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 10h 30min flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · July

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch crossing the Rockies, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · May

All CTU routes→ All LHR routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chengdu to London flight turbulent?

The CTU–LHR route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 5/100.

When is turbulence worst on CTU to LHR?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on CTU to LHR?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a 228 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20-30. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from CTU to LHR?

The CTU to LHR flight takes approximately 10h 30min, covering 5,942 miles (5,162 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly CTU to LHR?

The main airlines operating this route are Sichuan Airlines, British Airways, flying B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data