CPT to MAD Turbulence Forecast

Is the Cape Town to Madrid flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
CPT
MAD
Cape Town · Madrid · 10h 55m
13.1
Turb Score
10h 55m
Duration
4,635 nm
Distance
37,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Smooth
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for CPT–MAD

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 55m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the CPT–MAD route

The Cape Town to Madrid route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 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 Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 5,334 miles (4,635 nautical miles).

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

Cape Town to Madrid Flight Time

How long is the flight from CPT to MAD?

10h 55m
Flight Time
5,334 mi
Distance
37,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Boeing 777
Aircraft

The Cape Town (CPT) to Madrid (MAD) flight takes approximately 10h 55m, covering 5,334 miles (4,635 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines. Return flights (MAD to CPT) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on CPT–MAD

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 CPT–MAD

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on CPT–MAD

Boeing 777

Front
Rows 1–19
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 20–38
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

CPT to MAD turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on descent but nothing actually happened. Great trip.
Leisure traveler · January
Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 10h 55m went by fast.
First-time passenger · October
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
All CPT routes All MAD routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cape Town to Madrid flight turbulent?
The CPT–MAD route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 13.1/100.
When is turbulence worst on CPT to MAD?
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 CPT to MAD?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from CPT to MAD?
The CPT to MAD flight takes approximately 10h 55m, covering 5,334 miles (4,635 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly CPT to MAD?
The main airlines operating this route are Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, flying Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft.

Data Sources

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data