Scheduled departure 18:45 · BA499 · British Airways · Live tracking: FlightAware
Page updated: 25 Oct, 05:37 UTC
This result is not specific to a particular date or time, and it does not use the real flight route. It is a general route view between the two cities.
✓ Calm
2:30
The model shows this route as likely calm. Even if turbulence comes, modern aircraft are built to handle it.
Turbulence is normal. Keep your seatbelt fastened when seated and follow your crew's instructions.
My first flight: a step-by-step guide for first-timers
7 min · Guides
Approximate great-circle path, not the actual flight route.
TAKEOFF
Smooth
First 20 min
CRUISE
Smooth
1h 50m
LANDING
Smooth
Last 20 min
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Palma de Mallorca → London route, 1,348 km. Crosses the Iberian Peninsula, Western Europe, the British Isles and the North Sea. On short routes, any turbulence is usually brief and tied to climb or approach.
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Today's hour-by-hour view
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Before your flight
This forecast is calculated from ECMWF Open Data, an open weather model (Ellrod TI2), and it only changes when the model refreshes on its own cycle. Refreshing the page every few minutes will not change the result.
Checking over and over tends to feed anxiety. A kinder rhythm is to look once the day before, once before you head to the airport, and then let it go. Being curious is very human; there is no need to be hard on yourself.
Palma de Mallorca to London is about 1,348 km and usually takes around 2h 30m in the air. The track it follows runs over the Iberian Peninsula, Western Europe, the British Isles, and the North Sea.
Over the North Sea, the Iberian Peninsula, and Western Europe the air is usually calm and settled. Nearer the British Isles the weather turns more Atlantic and the ride can be livelier for short spells, still firmly within the routine.
On a flight this short most of the time is climb and descent, so any small movements come early and late; the cruise in between is brief but calm.
Route facts
About 1,348 km; typical flight time 2h 30m.
Aircraft on this route typically cruise around 11 km (FL340), above most weather.
The path crosses the Iberian Peninsula, Western Europe, the British Isles and the North Sea.
Modern aircraft are engineered to handle even the heaviest turbulence. Turbulence is uncomfortable, but not a structural threat. Pilots can change altitude or routing to find calmer air.
Which times of day are smoothest?
Early morning and night flights tend to be smoother — thermal currents from solar heating can cause mild bumps on afternoon departures.
Why are there light bumps at cruise altitude?
At cruise altitude (around 10-12 km), wind shear from the jet stream can produce brief clear-air turbulence. It usually lasts a few minutes; the pilot turns on the seatbelt sign, sometimes adjusts routing.
How reliable is this forecast?
The forecast is computed from the winds of the ECMWF open global weather model. No weather forecast is 100%; treat this as direction, not a guarantee.
How do pilots know about turbulence ahead of time?
Before each flight, pilots get a wind map briefing, ICAO SIGMET (significant meteorological advisories), and pilot reports (PIREPs) from other aircraft. In flight, they stay in active contact with ATC and nearby aircraft.