These Are the Most Turbulent Flight Routes in the World

"A bumpy bout of turbulence can be an uncomfortable experience, but a new report has revealed some air routes are more prone to rougher skies than others. The route between Mendoza, Argentina's, El Plumerillo International Airport (MDZ) and Santiago, Chile's, Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) was the most turbulent global route for 2025, according to a report from turbulence tracking site Turbli. It was the second year in a row the route, notoriously nicknamed " mountain wave," came in as the bumpiest in the world."

"Within the United States, travelers in the mountainous Southwest were more likely to experience turbulence, according to the report.The most turbulent route in the U.S. was between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), followed by flights between Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) and DEN. The route between JAC and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) rounded out the top three."

"Several cities made frequent appearances in the top 10, including Bozeman, Salt Lake City, and Denver. In fact, DEN was ranked the most turbulent airport in the U.S., and the seventh most turbulent airport in the world. To come up with its rankings, Turbli analyzed measurements known as an Eddy Dissipation Rate, which is used in aviation to determine the strength of turbulence."

The Mendoza (MDZ) to Santiago (SCL) route was the most turbulent global route for 2025, known locally as the "mountain wave." U.S. turbulence hotspots concentrate in the mountainous Southwest, with DEN–JAC, ABQ–DEN, and JAC–SLC among the bumpiest routes and DEN the most turbulent U.S. airport and seventh globally. Rankings were derived from Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements that quantify turbulence strength. Winter months in mountainous regions produce stronger turbulence due to shifts in the jet stream. Severe clear-air turbulence has increased over recent decades, linked to rising extreme weather frequency, though turbulence remains a normal part of flying.

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