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| Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez |
For Jennie Zeiher, what should have been a routine summer flight turned into a sweltering nightmare. On June 10, in the blazing 95-degree Athens heat, Zeiher and her family boarded a Qatar Airways plane only to be trapped on the tarmac for hours with no air conditioning and no information. Sealed inside the aircraft amid an electrical failure, the temperature climbed as water ran out, her 10-year-old son cried, and passengers fanned themselves in desperation.
"It was traumatic," Zeiher recalled. “The lack of control was quite hard.”
Though Qatar Airways attributed the ordeal to a "technical issue" and offered compensation under applicable regulations, Zeiher said her follow-up inquiries received no response. What escalated a standard delay into a distressing episode was the unusually severe heat wave sweeping Greece an ominous sign of how climate change is transforming the air travel experience.
More than just an isolated inconvenience, Zeiher’s story underscores a broader problem. As the climate warms, the very nature of flying is being reshaped. With more heat, storms, and atmospheric instability, flying isn’t just becoming less pleasant it’s becoming more turbulent, more delayed, and potentially more costly.
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| Jennie Zeiher and her son on the Qatar Airways flight. Jennie Zeiher |
Clear Skies, Chaotic Skies: The Rise of Dangerous Turbulence
Recent events have highlighted the growing threat of turbulence. Just this week, a Delta flight was struck by extreme clear-air turbulence, forcing it to divert to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Twenty-five passengers were hospitalized. While such incidents are still statistically rare, they’re becoming more frequent and the science backs it up.
Clear-air turbulence, the kind that strikes without warning on sunny days, is increasing as climate change intensifies the jet stream. Paul Williams, a leading atmospheric scientist at the University of Reading, has found that severe turbulence over the North Atlantic increased by 55% from 1979 to 2020. He warns the situation could worsen dramatically by the 2060s, potentially doubling or tripling turbulence levels.
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| Passengers deboard the Qatar Airways flight after being trapped in the heat for hours. Jennie Zeiher |
When turbulence hits hard, passengers and crew can be violently tossed from their seats. In May, doctors Ade Tan and Amos Chan were on their honeymoon aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 when their plane suddenly dropped 178 feet in four seconds. Tan suffered a cervical spine fracture. Over 100 passengers were injured.
Ongoing research shows that even mild turbulence causes wear and tear on aircraft, flexing wings and stressing fuselages. New lidar technology could one day predict clear-air turbulence with greater accuracy, but it’s currently too bulky and expensive for widespread use.
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| A tourist drinks water under an umbrella at the Acropolis in Greece during a June heat wave. Socrates Baltagiannis/picture alliance via Getty Images |
Heatwaves and Runway Risks: Delays Are Set to Multiply
If turbulence is making the skies bumpier, heat is complicating takeoffs and landing. Climate-related heatwaves are causing delays on the ground and in the air. High temperatures reduce air density, requiring planes to use longer runways or shed weight sometimes offloading passengers or cargo to ensure safe liftoff. A 2020 McKinsey report projected that, by 2050, extreme heat could ground 185,000 more passengers per year 23 times the current rate.
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| A Qatar airways plane lands at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Michael Probst/AP Photo |
Sometimes, the infrastructure simply can't handle the heat. In 2022, runways at a UK airport melted under record-breaking temperatures. Meanwhile, wildfires like those in Canada in 2023 reduced visibility and disrupted flights across the northeastern US. These extreme events are no longer seasonal flukes they are becoming normal.
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| Severe turbulence dislodged oxygen masks and caused injuries to dozens of passengers on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321. Reuters/Stringer |
The data already shows the impact. According to the FAA, 75% of flight delays are weather-related, and mounting evidence suggests that climate change is making that weather worse. In Europe, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned of an increase in delays tied to shifting weather patterns.
It’s Not Just You: Flying Is Becoming More Expensive, Too
As if turbulence and delays weren’t enough, the cost of flying may also rise. The immense energy required to cool airports and aircraft during extreme heat spells is pushing up operational costs. In its latest global outlook, IATA explicitly warned that the airline industry remains "fragile" and ill-equipped to absorb rising costs from climate change and decarbonization.
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| An Australian passenger who was injured on the turbulent Singapore Airlines flight, at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo |
These costs are often passed to airlines in the form of higher airport landing fees, which, in turn, get passed on to passengers. Robert W. Mann, an aviation consultant and former airline executive, notes that these pressures are inevitable. “They get passed on to passengers however airlines can do it,” he said.
At the same time, airlines must invest in greener technologies and adapt infrastructure for worsening weather conditions. With profit margins already razor-thin, climate-related challenges could further erode financial stability across the sector.
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| Ambulances in Bangkok, Thailand wait to carry passengers from the Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence. Sakchai Lalit/AP Photo |
The Passenger Experience: Less Comfort, More Patience Required
Zeiher’s experience in Athens was harrowing, but she’s far from alone. From increasing flight delays to severe turbulence, passengers are being asked to tolerate more unpredictability than ever before. Veronica Cote, a former pilot and aviation science professor, says modern aviation remains remarkably safe, but passengers should be prepared for new discomforts.
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| A jet takes flight from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, as the sun sets. Matt York/AP Photo |
"Passengers will need to pack patience when they board aircraft," Cote said. Her advice? Buckle up, listen to instructions, and expect more surprises in the sky.
Despite her bad experience, Zeiher isn't giving up on flying.
"I'll continue flying. I enjoy travel, so you have to," she said. “They come hand in hand.”
Welcome to the New Reality of Air Travel
Flying isn’t doomed but it is evolving under pressure. The climate crisis is reshaping every aspect of aviation, from turbulence and temperature to scheduling and cost. Airlines will need to modernize fleets, improve forecasting systems, and update infrastructure. Passengers, meanwhile, must adjust expectations.
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| Wildfire smoke reduces visibility at the Portland International Airport. Carlos Barria/Reuters |
That dream of jetting off to a beach or exploring a new city isn’t going anywhere. But the road or runway might get a lot rockier before it gets better.
