When is the Beijing to Seoul route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

PEK to ICN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Beijing to Seoul flight turbulent?

The PEK–ICN route typically experiences light turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on PEK to ICN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The PEK to ICN flight takes approximately 1h 45m, covering 560 miles at 33,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

PEK

→

ICN

Beijing · Seoul · 1h 45m

36.8

Turb Score

1h 45m

Duration

487 nm

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for PEK–ICN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the PEK–ICN route

The Beijing to Seoul route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 33,000 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 Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 560 miles (487 nautical miles).

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

Beijing to Seoul Flight Time

How long is the flight from PEK to ICN?

1h 45m

Flight Time

560 mi

Distance

33,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Beijing (PEK) to Seoul (ICN) flight takes approximately 1h 45m, covering 560 miles (487 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways. Return flights (ICN to PEK) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on PEK–ICN

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 PEK–ICN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on PEK–ICN

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

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

What you'll see in the app

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Some light chop over Central Asia — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in April.

Regular traveler · April

The 1h 45m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · May

A few bumpy patches over the subcontinent, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · January

All PEK routes→ All ICN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Beijing to Seoul flight turbulent?

The PEK–ICN route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 36.8/100.

When is turbulence worst on PEK to ICN?

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 PEK to ICN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from PEK to ICN?

The PEK to ICN flight takes approximately 1h 45m, covering 560 miles (487 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly PEK to ICN?

The main airlines operating this route are Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 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