LHR to CTU Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the London to Chengdu flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LHR to CTU?

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 LHR to CTU?

The LHR to CTU flight takes approximately 10h 0min.

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

Live forecast

LHR

→

CTU

London · Chengdu · 10h 0min

Turb Score

10h 0min

Duration

5,162 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 LHR–CTU

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 0min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LHR–CTU route

The London to Chengdu 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 British Airways, Sichuan Airlines 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 LHR–CTU

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 LHR–CTU

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LHR–CTU

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

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

Nervous flyer · January

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

Business traveler · November

More turbulent than I expected. The crossing the Rockies section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.

Leisure traveler · May

All LHR routes→ All CTU routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the London to Chengdu flight turbulent?

The LHR–CTU 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 LHR to CTU?

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 LHR to CTU?

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 LHR to CTU?

The LHR to CTU flight takes approximately 10h 0min, covering 5,942 miles (5,162 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LHR to CTU?

The main airlines operating this route are British Airways, Sichuan 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