ICN to CTS Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Seoul to Sapporo flight turbulent?

The ICN–CTS route typically experiences light turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on ICN to CTS?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (186 seats), that's rows 14–22. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from ICN to CTS?

The ICN to CTS flight takes approximately 2h 30m.

Is the Seoul to Sapporo flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

ICN

→

CTS

Seoul · Sapporo · 2h 30m

Turb Score

2h 30m

Duration

762 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for ICN–CTS

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the ICN–CTS route

The Seoul to Sapporo route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 35,000 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 Korean Air, ANA, Air Do on Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 877 miles (762 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on ICN–CTS

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

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Best time to fly ICN–CTS

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on ICN–CTS

Boeing 737 (186 seats)

Front

Rows 1–13

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 14–22

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 23+

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

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Passenger Reports

Some light chop mid-flight — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in November.

Regular traveler · November

There was some noticeable movement crossing the Himalayas that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · August

Flew Seoul–Sapporo in January, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · January

All ICN routes→ All CTS routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Seoul to Sapporo flight turbulent?

The ICN–CTS route typically experiences light turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 20/100.

When is turbulence worst on ICN to CTS?

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 ICN to CTS?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (186 seats) (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 14–22. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from ICN to CTS?

The ICN to CTS flight takes approximately 2h 30m, covering 877 miles (762 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly ICN to CTS?

The main airlines operating this route are Korean Air, ANA, Air Do, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 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