MLE to LHR Turbulence Forecast
Is the Malé to London flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.
⚠️ Moderate turbulence today
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Typical turbulence along the route
Historical average pattern for MLE–LHR
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h9h 52m
About the MLE–LHR route
The Malé to London route heads southeast over Europe and the Middle East, covering 6,064 miles at 39,000 feet. This corridor is generally smooth — turbulence is most common over the Alps and occasionally over the Zagros Mountains in Iran. The approach into Dubai crosses dry, stable desert air which is typically calm.
The route is served by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Maldivian on Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft,
with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 6,064 miles (5,270 nautical miles).
💡 Tip: Generally smooth. Mountain ranges over Europe/Iran can cause brief turbulence.
Malé to London Flight Time
How long is the flight from MLE to LHR?
39,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
The Malé (MLE) to London (LHR) flight takes approximately 9h 52m,
covering 6,064 miles (5,270 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet.
The route is operated by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Maldivian.
Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.
Turbulence levels on MLE–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
Best time to fly MLE–LHR
Turbulence by month
Best seat on MLE–LHR
Boeing 787-9
✓ Wing
Rows 21-32
Smoothest
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
Related guides
Learn more about flight turbulence
Passenger Reports
The over Turkey 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 9h 52m flight but we landed fine.
Solo traveler · January
More turbulent than I expected. The crossing the Zagros section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.
Leisure traveler · October
Moderate turbulence over Turkey — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.
Frequent flyer · May
Frequently asked questions
Is the Malé to London flight turbulent?
The MLE–LHR route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 10/100.
When is turbulence worst on MLE to LHR?
Generally smooth. Mountain ranges over Europe/Iran can cause brief turbulence. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on MLE to LHR?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787-9 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 21-32. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from MLE to LHR?
The MLE to LHR flight takes approximately 9h 52m, covering 6,064 miles (5,270 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly MLE to LHR?
The main airlines operating this route are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Maldivian, flying Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 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