How long does the flight from London to Istanbul take?

Flight time from London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST) depends on routing, aircraft type, and whether the flight is direct or connecting. A direct flight typically reflects great-circle distance plus winds, while one-stop options can add several hours depending on the layover airport. Check the exact duration in the search results above, where we show block time per itinerary along with stop count.

Which airlines fly from London to Istanbul?

Airline availability for LHR to IST changes by season and sometimes week to week as carriers adjust capacity. Our search above pulls live schedules and returns the airlines currently selling this route, both direct and connecting. Codeshare and interline itineraries are included, so you may see results operated by one carrier but sold by another.

Are there direct flights from London to Istanbul?

Direct (nonstop) availability on LHR to IST varies by date, day of week, and season. Busy city pairs usually have multiple daily nonstops, while thinner routes may only have direct service a few days per week or only during peak seasons. Use our search above with flexible dates to see which days actually have nonstop options.

What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Istanbul?

Prices on LHR to IST shift with seasonality, school holidays, and major events at both ends. Our 12-month price calendar below the search results shows the lowest fare found per departure date, which makes it easy to spot the cheapest weeks at a glance. Flexibility of a few days around your target date often unlocks significantly lower fares.

London to Istanbul flights

Direct and connecting flights from London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST). Compare airlines, aircraft, and fares.

Distance: 2,489 km (1,547 mi)
Flight time: ~3h 15m
Airlines: 2
Aircraft types: 3

Airlines flying LHR → IST

Airline	Aircraft types	Observations
Turkish Airlines	2	2
British Airways	1	1

Aircraft on this route

Airbus A320 — 1 operator
Boeing 777 — 1 operator
Boeing 737 — 1 operator

Airport details

Departure: London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

City: London
Country: United Kingdom
IATA / ICAO: LHR / EGLL

Arrival: Istanbul Airport (IST)

City: Istanbul
Country: Turkey
IATA / ICAO: IST / LTFM

Operating airlines

British Airways (BA)
Turkish Airlines (TK)

Distance: 2494 km. Duration: 235 minutes.

Other routes from London

Other routes to Istanbul

Typical fares by aircraft on this route

Aircraft	Median	Range	Operators
Airbus A320 (all variants)	€188	€136–363	British Airways
Airbus A320 (all variants)	€188	€136–363	British Airways
Airbus A321 (all variants)	€189	€136–363	British Airways, Turkish Airlines
Boeing 787 Dreamliner	€218	€149–256	Turkish Airlines
Airbus A330 (all variants)	€218	€149–256	Turkish Airlines
Airbus A350	€218	€149–256	Turkish Airlines
Boeing 777 (all variants)	€218	€149–256	Turkish Airlines

Based on 1211 recent fare observations.

Frequently asked questions

How many airlines fly LHR to IST?

2 airlines operate the LHR to IST route in our 90-day observed dataset.

What aircraft fly the LHR-IST route?

The most commonly observed aircraft on LHR to IST include: Airbus A320, Boeing 777, Boeing 737.

How long is the London to Istanbul flight?

The estimated flight time from London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST) is approximately 3h 15m, based on a cruise speed of 850 km/h.

What's the distance from London to Istanbul?

The great-circle distance from London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST) is approximately 2,489 km (1,547 miles).

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