SYD to ICN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Sydney to Seoul flight turbulent?

The SYD–ICN route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SYD to ICN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats), that's rows 26–38. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The SYD to ICN flight takes approximately 10h 0m.

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

Live forecast

SYD

→

ICN

Sydney · Seoul · 10h 0m

Turb Score

10h 0m

Duration

4,418 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 SYD–ICN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SYD–ICN route

The Sydney to Seoul 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 Korean Air, Qantas, Asiana on Boeing 787 · Airbus A380 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,085 miles (4,418 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on SYD–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 SYD–ICN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SYD–ICN

Boeing 787 (296 seats)

Front

Rows 1–25

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 26–38

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 39+

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

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Passenger Reports

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

Nervous flyer · November

Flew this in July expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · July

The over Central Asia 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 10h 0m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · July

All SYD routes→ All ICN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sydney to Seoul flight turbulent?

The SYD–ICN route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 54/100.

When is turbulence worst on SYD 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 SYD to ICN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (296 seats) (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 26–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SYD to ICN?

The SYD to ICN flight takes approximately 10h 0m, covering 5,085 miles (4,418 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SYD to ICN?

The main airlines operating this route are Korean Air, Qantas, Asiana, flying Boeing 787 · Airbus A380 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