SHA to XMN Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
SHA
XMN
Shanghai · Xiamen · 1h 40m
28.5
Turb Score
1h 40m
Duration
435 nm
Distance
33,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Light
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SHA–XMN

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 40m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the SHA–XMN route

The Shanghai to Xiamen 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 501 miles (435 nautical miles).

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

Shanghai to Xiamen Flight Time

How long is the flight from SHA to XMN?

1h 40m
Flight Time
501 mi
Distance
33,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Airbus A320
Aircraft

The Shanghai (SHA) to Xiamen (XMN) flight takes approximately 1h 40m, covering 501 miles (435 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet. The route is operated by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern. Return flights (XMN 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–XMN

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–XMN

Turbulence by month

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

Best seat on SHA–XMN

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 XMN turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

Flew Shanghai–Xiamen 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
The 1h 40m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.
Leisure traveler · April
A few bumpy patches over the subcontinent, 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 XMN routes

Frequently asked questions

Is the Shanghai to Xiamen flight turbulent?
The SHA–XMN route typically experiences light turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 28.5/100.
When is turbulence worst on SHA to XMN?
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 XMN?
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 XMN?
The SHA to XMN flight takes approximately 1h 40m, covering 501 miles (435 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly SHA to XMN?
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