IST

R5 551 Find Cheap Flights to Istanbul Airport

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Istanbul departing on 17/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Istanbul
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Istanbul
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Cheap Flight Deals to Istanbul

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to Istanbul that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

KAYAK's recommended return flight deals from the most popular airlines that fly to Istanbul.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Choose your dates
Etihad Airways Logo
9:50 - 13:05JNB-IST
26h 15m1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
7:30 - 8:20IST-JNB
25h 50m1 stop
R9 851Etihad Airways
Find Deal
Wed, May 21 - Thu, May 29
Qatar Airways Logo
13:55 - 11:55JNB-IST
21h 00m1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
20:05 - 10:00IST-JNB
14h 55m1 stop
R10 403Qatar Airways
Find Deal
Tue, May 13 - Tue, May 20
Ethiopian Air Logo
14:35 - 4:45CPT-IST
13h 10m1 stop
Ethiopian Air Logo
23:55 - 13:00IST-CPT
14h 05m1 stop
R10 954Ethiopian Air
Find Deal
Mon, Jun 16 - Mon, Jun 23
Ethiopian Air Logo
14:30 - 4:45JNB-IST
13h 15m1 stop
Ethiopian Air Logo
0:10 - 13:05IST-JNB
13h 55m1 stop
R11 267Ethiopian Air
Find Deal
Mon, May 19 - Thu, May 29
KLM Logo
23:15 - 16:20JNB-IST
16h 05m1 stop
KLM Logo
17:05 - 21:20IST-JNB
29h 15m1 stop
R11 450KLM
Find Deal
Fri, May 23 - Sat, May 31
Emirates Logo
22:20 - 14:25JNB-IST
15h 05m1 stop
Emirates Logo
2:10 - 16:15IST-JNB
15h 05m1 stop
R11 634Emirates
Find Deal
Sun, Apr 27 - Tue, Apr 29
Emirates Logo
22:20 - 21:35JNB-IST
22h 15m1 stop
Emirates Logo
19:25 - 16:15IST-JNB
21h 50m1 stop
R11 671Emirates
Find Deal
Tue, Sep 16 - Sun, Oct 5
KLM Logo
15:20 - 16:20CPT-IST
24h 00m2 stops
KLM Logo
17:05 - 21:25IST-CPT
29h 20m1 stop
R11 763KLM
Find Deal
Wed, Jun 4 - Wed, Jun 11
Turkish Airlines Logo
17:55 - 4:40JNB-IST
9h 45mdirect
Turkish Airlines Logo
1:50 - 10:35IST-JNB
9h 45mdirect
R12 002Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, May 21 - Wed, May 28
Turkish Airlines Logo
17:50 - 4:35JNB-IST
9h 45mdirect
Turkish Airlines Logo
1:50 - 10:35IST-JNB
9h 45mdirect
R12 038Turkish Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, May 15 - Tue, May 27

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Istanbul

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to Istanbul to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to Istanbul Airport?

These are the best round-trip prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Istanbul Airport was found on the route from Johannesburg, at R181 054 return. The most popular connection is from Cape Town to Istanbul Airport and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as R10 954 in the last 3 days.

How much is a flight to Istanbul Airport?

The average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to Istanbul Airport from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last month.
A flight to Istanbul Airport costs R12 952 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost R6 978 and departed from Cape Town. The most popular routes on KAYAK are Johannesburg to Istanbul Airport which costs R16 253 on average, and Cape Town to Istanbul Airport, which costs R16 814 on average.
See prices from:

What is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul?

The average price of all round-trip flights to Istanbul Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul is Tuesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as R14 705. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are R16 201 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights to Istanbul Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights to Istanbul Airport is February, where tickets cost R10 421 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and June, where the average cost of tickets from South Africa is R14 593 and R11 818 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is February with an average price of R11 505.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Istanbul Airport?

The average price for all round-trip flights to Istanbul Airport depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.
The cheapest time of day to fly to Istanbul Airport is generally in the morning, when round-trip flights cost R560 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Istanbul Airport is generally in the evening, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is R826.

What is a good deal for flights to Istanbul Airport?

If you’re looking for cheap airfare to Istanbul Airport, 25% of our users found tickets to Istanbul Airport for the following prices or less: From Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport R13 459 return, from Cape Town R14 141 return.

How far in advance should I book a flight to Istanbul Airport?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to Istanbul Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.
To get a below average price, you should book around 3 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Good to know – Book Cheap Istanbul Airport Plane Tickets

Low season

February

High season

September

Cheapest flight

R5 551
Best time to beat the crowds (9% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (1% more expensive on average)
Flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Airport

When to book flights to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to Istanbul based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs - booking Istanbul Airport flights

  • What is the cheapest flight to Istanbul Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Istanbul Airport was found on the route from Johannesburg, at R181 054 return. The most popular connection is from Cape Town to Istanbul Airport and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as R10 954 in the last 3 days.

  • How far is Istanbul Airport from central Istanbul?

    There are 34 km between Istanbul city centre and Istanbul Airport.

  • How much is a flight to Istanbul?

    On average, a flight to Istanbul costs R12 952. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost R6 978 and departed from Cape Town Intl Airport.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Istanbul Airport?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Istanbul Airport.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Istanbul Airport?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Istanbul Airport is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Istanbul Airport?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Istanbul Airport with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Istanbul Airport?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Istanbul Airport up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • How many direct flights to Istanbul Airport are there each week?

    Each week there are around 14 direct flights from within South Africa to Istanbul Airport. The most common day for departures is Friday, with 14% of flights taking off on this day.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Istanbul Airport

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Istanbul Airport? 25% of our users found return tickets to Istanbul Airport for the following prices or less: From Cape Town R31 949, from Johannesburg OR Tambo R39 807
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Istanbul Airport flight deals.

Prefer to fly direct to Istanbul?

Find which airlines fly direct to Istanbul Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

South Africa to Istanbul

Monday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +112 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +113 more

Tuesday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +110 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +111 more

Wednesday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +109 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +110 more

Thursday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +115 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +116 more

Friday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +113 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +114 more

Saturday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +110 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +111 more

Sunday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +111 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +112 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Istanbul to South Africa

Monday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +112 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +113 more

Tuesday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +110 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +111 more

Wednesday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +109 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +110 more

Thursday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +115 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +116 more

Friday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +113 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +114 more

Saturday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +110 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +111 more

Sunday

ANA, AZIMUTH, Aegean Airlines, +111 more

ANA, AZIMUTH, +112 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 5 airlines flying to Istanbul

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to Istanbul. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from South Africa to Istanbul. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Istanbul? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8,0
EmiratesOverall score based on 3193 reviews
8,2Entertainment
8,3Crew
8,1Boarding
8,0Comfort
7,8Food
Airline reviews

The best ever, friendly and attentive cabin crew, amazing captains who utilised their expertise for less turbulence, just overall amazing

10,0 ExcellentAnonymous, Mar 2025DXB - MIA
Read more Emirates reviews

The best ever, friendly and attentive cabin crew, amazing captains who utilised their expertise for less turbulence, just overall amazing

First time and very memorable, the finest flying experience ive ever had

Comfort poor, little leg room, cabin temperature too hot. No free entertainment. No complementary drinks. Overal experience poor and would not travel with them again.

The plane seemed pretty old and the food was not good

Comfort and customer service from most if the crew was great. The crew reassigning passengers should consider the presence of infants when reassigning seats. Unfortunately a couple of oversized passengers were relocated next to us, making this segment a bit uncomfortable, as there was not only extra leg space required. I ended up swapping seats with my husband so our baby wouldn't be impacted. My husband travelled quite uncomfortable as the reassigned neighbour shoulder and arm ended up on my husband's seat

Delayed, Bad American style food (not tasty, horrible cheese for a flight to France). Incompetent cabin crew (I asked how to connect by cable my headphones and the flight attendant suggested me Bluetooth which is not available). Good space

The food was amazing on our flight. So many options for movies and shows to stay entertained for 12 hours.

The crew were friendly, dressed professionally and helpful when needed. The food was good to very good. The seats were comfortable and entertainment selections were excellent.   For that long of a flight Athens to Newark Economy is a little tight and the space became uncomfortable about mid-way. Next time I would try and get a Premium Economy seat. Especially for the return flight when one can be less enthused and tired. On the way to a vacation enthusiasm can outweigh discomfort.

More organised boarding process. It was a circus. Otherwise absolutely top class flight

On the DXB to IAD flight, missed the snack between the meals again...

Liked some flight attendants. 1 was rude I'll not say her name I don't want to get her jn trouble on my flight back to Dallas from Doha. Very rude to some races of people clearly. She needs a better attitude and bedside manners. Asking her questions and she responds "WHAT" twice rudely like I was bothering her and "is it going to be cranberry or mango juice with an attitude".

Qatar Airways did a very good job. Flights were slightly delayed with boarding but pilots made up time by arrival. The food was OK, no better or worse than other airlines. Although it would be nice to have three meals during 16 hours flight instead of two.

I recently travelled in Business Class with Qatar Airways, and overall, it was a pleasant experience. The cabin crew stood out for their kindness and professionalism, making the journey truly comfortable. The food exceeded expectations and was exceptional in both quality and presentation. The boarding staff was courteous, though I would like to mention that the staff member responsible for checking tickets during boarding could benefit from additional training to be more welcoming. A warm and hospitable approach would enhance the passenger experience significantly. However, one aspect of the journey was particularly frustrating. The in-flight entertainment system was disappointing, as the headphones provided did not work at all due to a loose connection. This significantly impacted the experience, especially since the flight also lacked Wi-Fi service. Addressing these issues would greatly enhance the overall travel experience. Lastly, I would suggest implementing a section-wise boarding process to streamline the boarding experience and minimise potential challenges. I appreciate the efforts Qatar Airways puts into delivering high-quality service and hope to see these improvements implemented in the future.

The only thing that could have been better, is that the food trays get left way to long after a meal. We had a snack 8 hrs into the trip, and they left us with the boxes and cups for way too long. It is not fun being trapped in your seat unnecessarily

Worst air experience in whole life . Boarding and checking was hassle as they did 3 times. Crew team was clueless about passengers need. Despite of passengers raising hand , they were resetting the program

Seat experience average as they use old 777 for must flights despite full load. Qr fares are higher than other airlines for same routes so they should at least upgrade the planes . Food is average and same dishes for months on most routes I travelled at least - the Arabian rice dish “Maqboos” on every flight for months - I am sure there are other food Arabian dishes ?? It’s become boring ! Crew is always good which makes up for these things but hey confirm us what we need

The rows of seats in economy class are seriously close to one another making eating and resting just about impossible - there is hardly any legroom. Anyone larger than average size would have an incredibly uncomfortable flight. I had to basically share my seat with the lady passenger next to me as she was too big to fit into her allotted seat.

As gold member there is no priority checkin. Meaning you either have to board with your zone or last with business class pax. As economy pax all the baggage bays are filled by the time you arrive

Don't be afraid if you board an Oman Air Airbus A330 - it will take you to Colombo and not Muskat. The Aircraft is leased by Qatar Airways ;-)

For a short flight, Qatar Airways offers very good onboard service.

Crew Check-In – Kolkata (CCU) The crew handling check-in in Kolkata was outstanding—efficient, courteous, and highly organized. Flight Segment – CCU to Abu Dhabi (AUH) A standard flight overall. Notably, only one in-flight meal option—a vegetarian curry—was available, which seemed unsuitable for a red-eye journey. The crew offered no alternatives, which was unexpected. Flight Segment – Abu Dhabi to Rome (AUH-FCO) Comfort improved on this leg, but service quality was average, falling short of Etihad’s premium standards. Crew attention was heavily absorbed by a difficult couple in Row 15 (port side), resulting in disproportionate focus. It was concerning that a steward had to personally return to apologize, a task better suited for supervisory staff. This highlights a development opportunity for supervisors Anna and Quashim in managing guest escalation professionally.

Certainly! Here’s a more concise and refined version of your report, maintaining a polished and professional tone: --- Crew Check-In – Kolkata (CCU) The crew handling check-in in Kolkata was outstanding—efficient, courteous, and highly organized. Flight Segment – CCU to Abu Dhabi (AUH) A standard flight overall. Notably, only one in-flight meal option—a vegetarian curry—was available, which seemed unsuitable for a red-eye journey. The crew offered no alternatives, which was unexpected. Flight Segment – Abu Dhabi to Rome (AUH-FCO) Comfort improved on this leg, but service quality was average, falling short of Etihad’s premium standards. Crew attention was heavily absorbed by a difficult couple in Row 15 (port side), resulting in disproportionate focus. It was concerning that a steward had to personally return to apologize, a task better suited for supervisory staff. This highlights a development opportunity for supervisors Anna and Quashim in managing guest escalation professionally.

Flight was delayed due to slow boarding process by etihad. Update food options and movies as well.

Should have had business class line in immigration. Food quality suboptimal

Used to Etihad employees are very rude and unprofessional but now better than before over all is okay now

This flight was a dreamliner so I think the space was ok for the legs, but the option for food was again limited and the crew was same.

Boarding was efficient, had to check in cabin luggage. Seats were narrow, food was more in quantity, received cabin luggage on the luggage belt which was fine.

Bad. Flight was very uncomfortable with narrow and shallow seats, very little food and water. I will not fly etihad again.

Boarding catastrophic let alone have to claimb the plain rather than using jetway. 5.5 hr delay leaving had to do stop in Lgw for a new crew which further compounded the delay. Connecting flight would not wait and had to pend a night in a hotel. Curiously my seat would not go full flat.

Seat selection screen while online check-in could include free seats to choose from and show the options before we proceed. Currently, it is auto-allocated and there are no options for free seat selections.

The flight was great. From the first to the last step, the staff was very helpful and understanding. I also always enjoy Turkish Airlines food because it’s flavorful, fresh (like salads and very delicious bread ) and has special things like olives, dates… I loved that bean salad and apricot pie. I also enjoyed the movies. Thank you!

Ordered Vegan meal - it was ok, but not exceptional. Seat ok row 39 middle section aisle. Nearly full flight - crew was busy but they did the best they could. There was a USB A port at the seat. I listened to my own music and only looked at flight information. One nice thing was the connection information was made available in the screen.

I recently flew with Turkish Airlines, and I can confidently say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. From the moment I boarded, the crew was incredibly attentive, warm, and professional. They went above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of throughout the flight. The highlight, however, was the food! I’ve flown with many airlines, but Turkish Airlines sets the bar incredibly high when it comes to in-flight dining. Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The variety of dishes, even on a long-haul flight, was impressive. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant at 35,000 feet! The seats were comfortable, the entertainment options were great, and the overall atmosphere made the journey enjoyable. Turkish Airlines truly excels in combining luxury and hospitality. I wouldn’t hesitate to fly with them again—highly recommend!

Very nice and friendly crew. Boarding system can be improved.

The Etickets had been changed (Why?) without notice ; Hence, that caused troubles when checking in. Not until I contacted my ticket agent and was given correct Etickets could I then check in.

The seat 7A had no padding. I needed to sit on the provided pillow.

One of the best flights I have been on in a while. Food was excellent. The chair-back screens in economy were A+. The crew was friendly and helpful.

"I had a fantastic experience with Turkish Airlines! Here are some things that really stood out to me: - Delicious food options, including a wide range of Turkish cuisine - Friendly and attentive flight attendants - Extensive in-flight entertainment options - Smooth and efficient check-in and boarding process Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with Turkish Airlines and would definitely fly with them again. The combination of comfort, service, and amenities made for a truly enjoyable flight experience."

Food is getting worse. They use to be different than other airlines. Their economy classes food sucks. Stuff was very helpful.

Unbelievable food and service! Chefs are amazing onboard. WiFi spotty

For Vegetarian Food was very poor. Though we had opted for Asian Vegetarian Food they didn’t serve but only what was available was served. We were offered Smoked Salmon!

Flight was delayed an hour. Also, I bought an extra legroom seat online; but the actually plane was a different configuration so I didn't get what I paid for . This happened on the Addis to Lusaka leg of my trip.

Needs improvement because some of the tvs and charging ports weren’t working

The plane was overbooked and the crew was very rude. My luggage was never put on the plane. I got to NY and waited 2 hours just to find out that my luggage was left.

My experience was great. The flight attendants were very helpful and nice, and the food was very good.

Very bad experience flight was over 5 hours delayed 😑 not a chance to be put on another flight we had to stay at the hotel we lost 2 days on our vacation. Never again I will fligh with Ethiopian airlines.

The flight delayef for over 2 hours so my route was changed leading to arriving to my destination without my luggage

I liked nothing of Ethiopian airlines except the price of the fare.

Food was really not appealing. There was a blocked sink in the toilet. Toilet is cramped and the wall between the 2 toilets are not secured properly.

I felt all of the food tasted the same. And we had five meals over the 16 hrs in the air.

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