SHA to HKG Turbulence Forecast

Is the Shanghai to Hong Kong flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
SHA
HKG
Shanghai · Hong Kong · 2h 10m
28.8
Turb Score
2h 10m
Duration
665 nm
Distance
33,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SHA–HKG

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h2h 10m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SHA–HKG route

The Shanghai to Hong Kong route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 33,000 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 Air China, China Eastern, China Southern on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 765 miles (665 nautical miles).

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

Shanghai to Hong Kong Flight Time

How long is the flight from SHA to HKG?

2h 10m
Flight Time
765 mi
Distance
33,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Airbus A320
Aircraft

The Shanghai (SHA) to Hong Kong (HKG) flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 765 miles (665 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern. Return flights (HKG to SHA) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on SHA–HKG

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 SHA–HKG

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SHA–HKG

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

SHA to HKG turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

Flew Shanghai–Hong Kong in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.
Business traveler · April
Some light chop over the subcontinent — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in October.
Regular traveler · October
A few bumpy patches over Central Asia, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.
Frequent flyer · January
All SHA routes All HKG routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shanghai to Hong Kong flight turbulent?
The SHA–HKG route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 28.8/100.
When is turbulence worst on SHA to HKG?
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 SHA to HKG?
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 SHA to HKG?
The SHA to HKG flight takes approximately 2h 10m, covering 765 miles (665 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SHA to HKG?
The main airlines operating this route are Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

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