CN
AIRPORT
KMG
WORLD RANK
#93

Kunming

Kunming Changshui International Airport

ZPPP
484
Flights/Day
05:52
Local Time
Shanghai
Timezone
6,903ft
Elevation
Flying from Kunming?

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Current Weather
Current Conditions
ZPPP
VFR
18°C
Mostly Cloudy 8kt 1015.00"
Observed: 20:00 UTC
VFR — Visual Flight Rules: Clear conditions, no weather delays expected.
Cloud Forecast
12k 8k 4k 0
02:00
3.3k
About Kunming Changshui International Airport

Kunming's high plateau location (6,200 ft) provides generally smooth conditions. The 'Spring City' enjoys mild weather year-round.

Is Kunming Airport turbulent?

Kunming Changshui sits at 2,100m (6,900 feet) on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, making it one of China's highest major airports. The elevation affects aircraft performance and can create thermal turbulence. Routes from Kunming to Tibetan destinations like Lhasa cross some of the world's most turbulent airspace over the Himalayan plateau.

  • Airport elevation: 2,100m (6,900 feet) above sea level
  • Kunming-Lhasa is one of the world's bumpiest routes
  • Known as the 'Spring City' for its mild year-round climate
Why are flights to Tibet from Kunming bumpy?

The flight path crosses the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau where terrain rises dramatically. Unpredictable mountain weather, severe clear-air turbulence, and rapidly shifting conditions make this one of the most challenging domestic routes in the world. The thin air at cruising altitude over the plateau adds to the challenges.

When is the smoothest time to fly from Kunming?

Kunming's mild 'eternal spring' climate means local conditions are relatively consistent year-round. For flights to Tibet, winter offers more stable air but worse weather at destination. Morning flights generally avoid afternoon thermal turbulence. The monsoon season (June-September) brings more thunderstorm activity.

Is turbulence at Kunming dangerous?

No. Modern aircraft are designed to withstand forces far stronger than turbulence. While bumps can feel uncomfortable, they do not pose a safety risk. Pilots actively avoid rough air whenever possible. Learn more about turbulence

Best seats to reduce turbulence when flying from Kunming?

Seats near the wings feel the least movement because they are closest to the aircraft's center of gravity. Seats at the back of the aircraft feel turbulence more strongly. Learn more about seat selection

Upcoming Flights (next 2 hours) 61
Flight Destination Departure Aircraft Forecast
MU5911
China Eastern Airlines
JHG 06:20 Local -- Forecast
MU5969
China Eastern Airlines
LUM 06:30 Local -- Forecast
DR6563
Ruili Airlines
ZUH 06:35 Local -- Forecast
MU5989
China Eastern Airlines
BSD 06:35 Local -- Forecast
8L9561
Lucky Air
KOW 06:35 Local boeing 737-8al Forecast
8L9895
Lucky Air
+1 codeshare DR
LHW 06:35 Local boeing 737-8al Forecast
MU5797
China Eastern Airlines
ZHA 06:40 Local -- Forecast
8L9831
Lucky Air
DIG 06:40 Local -- Forecast
8L9959
Lucky Air
AQG 06:40 Local -- Forecast
3U8259
Sichuan Airlines
XMN 06:40 Local -- Forecast
8L9751
Lucky Air
+2 codeshares 8L
LXA 06:45 Local boeing 737-74p Forecast
MU9691
China Eastern Airlines
SQJ 06:45 Local -- Forecast
KY8273
Kunming Airlines
HUZ 06:45 Local -- Forecast
DR6543
Ruili Airlines
ENH 06:50 Local -- Forecast
6E9632
Indigo
CCU 06:50 Local -- Forecast
MU5729
China Eastern Airlines
YIH 06:50 Local -- Forecast
MU5879
China Eastern Airlines
WNZ 06:55 Local -- Forecast
MU5919
China Eastern Airlines
LJG 06:55 Local -- Forecast
SC4830
Shandong Airlines
TAO 06:55 Local -- Forecast
DR6549
Ruili Airlines
JJN 06:55 Local -- Forecast
3U8223
Sichuan Airlines
LYG 06:55 Local -- Forecast
3U8209
Sichuan Airlines
XNN 06:55 Local -- Forecast
MU5694
China Eastern Airlines
+1 codeshare DR
HGH 06:55 Local airbus a320-251n Forecast
MU5815
China Eastern Airlines
PVG 06:55 Local -- Forecast
8L9707
Lucky Air
SWA 07:00 Local -- Forecast
KY8277
Kunming Airlines
SZX 07:00 Local -- Forecast
CA4171
Air China
PEK 07:00 Local airbus a320-251n Forecast
A67129
Air Travel
KHN 07:00 Local airbus a320-214 Forecast
A67103
Air Travel
+1 codeshare KY
CSX 07:00 Local airbus a320-251n Forecast
8L9971
Lucky Air
HAK 07:00 Local -- Forecast
DR6559
Ruili Airlines
NGB 07:05 Local b738 Forecast
8L9839
Lucky Air
YNZ 07:05 Local -- Forecast
DR6545
Ruili Airlines
TLQ 07:05 Local -- Forecast
DR5011
Ruili Airlines
BAV 07:05 Local -- Forecast
CA4061
Air China
SHE 07:05 Local -- Forecast
MU2490
China Eastern Airlines
+1 codeshare DR
WUH 07:10 Local -- Forecast
ZH3223
Shenzhen Airlines
CZX 07:10 Local boeing 737-8ly Forecast
8L9545
Lucky Air
KOW 07:10 Local boeing 737-8al Forecast
8L9731
Lucky Air
LZO 07:10 Local -- Forecast
8L9727
Lucky Air
MIG 07:15 Local -- Forecast
MU5727
China Eastern Airlines
+1 codeshare DR
XIY 07:20 Local -- Forecast
8L9859
Lucky Air
HFE 07:20 Local -- Forecast
MU5887
China Eastern Airlines
+1 codeshare SC
TNA 07:20 Local -- Forecast
8L9837
Lucky Air
YIC 07:20 Local -- Forecast
MU5081
China Eastern Airlines
SIN 07:30 Local -- Forecast
CZ3420
China Southern Airlines
CAN 07:30 Local -- Forecast
8L9965
Lucky Air
SYX 07:30 Local -- Forecast
GJ8882
Loong Air
HGH 07:30 Local airbus a320-214 Forecast
MU5819
China Eastern Airlines
PVG 07:30 Local -- Forecast
KY3215
Kunming Airlines
DYG 07:30 Local -- Forecast
8L9977
Lucky Air
HET 07:35 Local -- Forecast
3U8237
Sichuan Airlines
CGO 07:35 Local -- Forecast
MU9663
China Eastern Airlines
KHN 07:35 Local -- Forecast
8L9949
Lucky Air
TCZ 07:40 Local boeing 737-74p Forecast
8L9875
Lucky Air
+1 codeshare DR
TYN 07:40 Local -- Forecast
3U6620
Sichuan Airlines
TFU 07:45 Local -- Forecast
MU9673
China Eastern Airlines
YIW 07:45 Local -- Forecast
DR6505
Ruili Airlines
LUM 07:45 Local -- Forecast
3U8251
Sichuan Airlines
NGB 07:50 Local -- Forecast
MU9603
China Eastern Airlines
VTE 07:50 Local -- Forecast
8L9883
Lucky Air
ZUH 07:50 Local -- Forecast
06:20
Local
KMG JHG
MU MU5911
06:30
Local
KMG LUM
MU MU5969
06:35
Local
KMG ZUH
DR DR6563
06:35
Local
KMG BSD
MU MU5989
06:35
Local
KMG KOW
8L 8L9561
boeing 737-8al
06:35
Local
KMG LHW
8L 8L9895 +1
boeing 737-8al
06:40
Local
KMG ZHA
MU MU5797
06:40
Local
KMG DIG
8L9831
06:40
Local
KMG AQG
8L9959
06:40
Local
KMG XMN
3U8259
06:45
Local
KMG LXA
8L 8L9751 +2
boeing 737-74p
06:45
Local
KMG SQJ
MU MU9691
06:45
Local
KMG HUZ
KY KY8273
06:50
Local
KMG ENH
DR DR6543
06:50
Local
KMG CCU
6E9632
06:50
Local
KMG YIH
MU MU5729
06:55
Local
KMG WNZ
MU MU5879
06:55
Local
KMG LJG
MU MU5919
06:55
Local
KMG TAO
SC SC4830
06:55
Local
KMG JJN
DR DR6549
06:55
Local
KMG LYG
3U8223
06:55
Local
KMG XNN
3U8209
06:55
Local
KMG HGH
MU MU5694 +1
airbus a320-251n
06:55
Local
KMG PVG
MU MU5815
07:00
Local
KMG SWA
8L9707
07:00
Local
KMG SZX
KY KY8277
07:00
Local
KMG PEK
CA CA4171
airbus a320-251n
07:00
Local
KMG KHN
A67129
airbus a320-214
07:00
Local
KMG CSX
A67103 +1
airbus a320-251n
07:00
Local
KMG HAK
8L9971
07:05
Local
KMG NGB
DR DR6559
07:05
Local
KMG YNZ
8L9839
07:05
Local
KMG TLQ
DR DR6545
07:05
Local
KMG BAV
DR DR5011
07:05
Local
KMG SHE
CA CA4061
07:10
Local
KMG WUH
MU MU2490 +1
07:10
Local
KMG CZX
ZH ZH3223
boeing 737-8ly
07:10
Local
KMG KOW
8L 8L9545
boeing 737-8al
07:10
Local
KMG LZO
8L9731
07:15
Local
KMG MIG
8L9727
07:20
Local
KMG XIY
MU MU5727 +1
07:20
Local
KMG HFE
8L9859
07:20
Local
KMG TNA
MU MU5887 +1
07:20
Local
KMG YIC
8L9837
07:30
Local
KMG SIN
MU MU5081
07:30
Local
KMG CAN
CZ CZ3420
07:30
Local
KMG SYX
8L9965
07:30
Local
KMG HGH
GJ GJ8882
airbus a320-214
07:30
Local
KMG PVG
MU MU5819
07:30
Local
KMG DYG
KY KY3215
07:35
Local
KMG HET
8L9977
07:35
Local
KMG CGO
3U8237
07:35
Local
KMG KHN
MU MU9663
07:40
Local
KMG TCZ
8L 8L9949
boeing 737-74p
07:40
Local
KMG TYN
8L9875 +1
07:45
Local
KMG TFU
3U6620
07:45
Local
KMG YIW
MU MU9673
07:45
Local
KMG LUM
DR DR6505
07:50
Local
KMG NGB
3U8251
07:50
Local
KMG VTE
MU MU9603
07:50
Local
KMG ZUH
8L9883