Find Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to Istanbul – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul:

• Earliest: departs at 0:20 and lands at 10:20
• Latest: departs at 18:50 and lands at 4:50.

The flight takes about 10h 00m.

Four cabin classes are available on flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class
• Business Class
• First Class

Prices vary by airline.

A direct flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul takes 10h 00m, covering 12 011 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Return flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul range from R9 229 to R12 936, with an average of R10 804 over the past 12 months. Anything below R9 229 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 3% above the route average of R10 804. Book 10 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average R8 186 return via Algiers Houari Boumediene (ALG), compared with R14 633 for direct.

Turkish Airlines is the only airline operating Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul flights. 89% of its flights are on time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge R992–R1 628 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Evening is the busiest departure period on Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

Since Istanbul is served by multiple airports, car hire options and rates can vary depending on which one you fly into.
Near Istanbul Airport (IST) – daily rates from around R171:

• CIRCULAR
• Avec Car Rental
• Ok Mobility
• Alamo
• Autounion Car Rental

Near Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) – daily rates from around R200:

• Avec Car Rental
• CIRCULAR
• Final Rentals
• Autounion Car Rental
• ESSENCE CAR RENTAL

Flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul usually depart from Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) and may arrive at several airports in Istanbul area, including Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

Evening flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul route, 11% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 2 hours 46 minutes.

One-stop flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul most commonly connect through:

• Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) – 44% of one-stop connections
• Dubai Intl (DXB) – 27% of one-stop connections
• Addis Ababa Bole (ADD) – 9% of one-stop connections
• Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl (AUH) – 8% of one-stop connections

Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 4% on the Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul route. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at R10 728 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at R11 135, a difference of R407. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

Only Turkish Airlines operates flights between Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport and Istanbul.

Flying via Addis Ababa Bole (ADD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 13h 35m, compared to 14h 58m via Cairo (CAI) and 16h 39m via Dubai Intl (DXB).

Istanbul is 1 hour ahead of Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (Turkey Time vs South Africa Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Istanbul are Taksim Square, Sultan Ahmet Camii, and Ayasofya. These are among the most viewed places in Istanbul on KAYAK.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Turkish Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• South African: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so travellers should check the fare details before booking.