When is the Riyadh to Athens 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.

RUH to ATH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Riyadh to Athens flight turbulent?

The RUH–ATH route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on RUH to ATH?

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 RUH to ATH?

The RUH to ATH flight takes approximately 3h 40m, covering 1,606 miles at 35,000 feet.

Is the Riyadh to Athens flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

RUH

→

ATH

Riyadh · Athens · 3h 40m

22.3

Turb Score

3h 40m

Duration

1,396 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

⚠️ Smooth turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for RUH–ATH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h3h 40m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the RUH–ATH route

The Riyadh to Athens route heads southeast over Europe and the Middle East, covering 1,606 miles at 35,000 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 Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,606 miles (1,396 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Generally smooth. Mountain ranges over Europe/Iran can cause brief turbulence.

Riyadh to Athens Flight Time

How long is the flight from RUH to ATH?

3h 40m

Flight Time

1,606 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Riyadh (RUH) to Athens (ATH) flight takes approximately 3h 40m, covering 1,606 miles (1,396 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on RUH–ATH

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

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly RUH–ATH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on RUH–ATH

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

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

See all middle east flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

Did Riyadh to Athens last January and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · January

Fly this route pretty regularly for work. Most of the time it's smooth — May was completely fine, not a bump worth mentioning.

Business traveler · May

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 3h 40m went by fast.

First-time passenger · June

All RUH routes→ All ATH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Riyadh to Athens flight turbulent?

The RUH–ATH route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 22.3/100.

When is turbulence worst on RUH to ATH?

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 RUH to ATH?

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 RUH to ATH?

The RUH to ATH flight takes approximately 3h 40m, covering 1,606 miles (1,396 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly RUH to ATH?

The main airlines operating this route are Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, 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