When is the Thessaloniki to Istanbul 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.

SKG to IST Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Thessaloniki to Istanbul flight turbulent?

The SKG–IST route typically experiences smooth turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SKG to IST?

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 SKG to IST?

The SKG to IST flight takes approximately 1h 20m, covering 306 miles at 29,000 feet.

Is the Thessaloniki to Istanbul flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

SKG

→

IST

Thessaloniki · Istanbul · 1h 20m

10.0

Turb Score

1h 20m

Duration

266 nm

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SKG–IST

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 20m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SKG–IST route

The Thessaloniki to Istanbul route is a short European hop covering just 306 miles — one of the smoothest types of flights available. At cruising altitude of around 29,000 feet, the aircraft rarely encounters significant turbulence. Rough weather in northern Europe during winter can occasionally cause bumps during climb or descent.

The route is served by Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 29,000 feet over a distance of 306 miles (266 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Very short and smooth. Any turbulence is brief during climb/descent.

Thessaloniki to Istanbul Flight Time

How long is the flight from SKG to IST?

1h 20m

Flight Time

306 mi

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Thessaloniki (SKG) to Istanbul (IST) flight takes approximately 1h 20m, covering 306 miles (266 nautical miles) at 29,000 feet. The route is operated by Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on SKG–IST

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 SKG–IST

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SKG–IST

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

IST → SKG

Istanbul → Thessaloniki

Smooth

SKG → FRA

Thessaloniki → Frankfurt

Light

SKG → MUC

Thessaloniki → Munich

Light

SKG → DUS

Thessaloniki → Düsseldorf

Light

See all european flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · January

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

Frequent flyer · December

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

Business traveler · January

All SKG routes→ All IST routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Thessaloniki to Istanbul flight turbulent?

The SKG–IST route typically experiences smooth turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 10.0/100.

When is turbulence worst on SKG to IST?

Very short and smooth. Any turbulence is brief during climb/descent. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on SKG to IST?

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 SKG to IST?

The SKG to IST flight takes approximately 1h 20m, covering 306 miles (266 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SKG to IST?

The main airlines operating this route are Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, 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