JFK to ADD Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the New York to Addis Ababa flight turbulent?

The JFK–ADD route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on JFK to ADD?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a 228, that's rows 20-28. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from JFK to ADD?

The JFK to ADD flight takes approximately 14h 45min.

Is the New York to Addis Ababa flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

JFK

→

ADD

New York · Addis Ababa · 14h 45min

Turb Score

14h 45min

Duration

6,861 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for JFK–ADD

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h14h 45min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the JFK–ADD route

The New York to Addis Ababa 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 Ethiopian Airlines on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 7,896 miles (6,861 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on JFK–ADD

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 JFK–ADD

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on JFK–ADD

228

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20-28

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 29+

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

JFK → JNB

New York → Johannesburg

Addis Ababa → New York

See all transatlantic flights →

Passenger Reports

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 · 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 14h 45min flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · August

Rough patch over the plains in May — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · May

All JFK routes→ All ADD routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the New York to Addis Ababa flight turbulent?

The JFK–ADD route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 6/100.

When is turbulence worst on JFK to ADD?

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 JFK to ADD?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a 228 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20-28. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from JFK to ADD?

The JFK to ADD flight takes approximately 14h 45min, covering 7,896 miles (6,861 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly JFK to ADD?

The main airlines operating this route are Ethiopian Airlines, 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