IST

R5 329 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 5/9. 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.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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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Everything you should know

Cheapest return fare
R9 208
Typical prices: R10 512-R8 833
Etihad Airways
Wed 11/11Wed 25/11
JNB - IST • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
R14 015
Typical prices: R21 031-R14 113
Turkish Airlines
Mon 27/7Mon 10/8
JNB - IST • Direct
Top routes
Cheapest
Most popular
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 10 weeks in advance save around 10% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 11% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights 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.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

Wed, Nov 11 - Wed, Nov 25
Etihad Airways Logo
9:50 - 12:55
JNB
-
IST
26h 05m
1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
14:00 - 8:20
IST
-
JNB
19h 20m
1 stop
R9 208Etihad Airways
Mon, Jul 27 - Wed, Aug 12
Etihad Airways Logo
9:45 - 12:35
JNB
-
IST
25h 50m
1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
13:50 - 8:20
IST
-
JNB
19h 30m
1 stop
R9 224Etihad Airways
Mon, Jul 27 - Tue, Aug 11
Etihad Airways Logo
9:45 - 12:35
JNB
-
IST
25h 50m
1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
13:45 - 8:20
IST
-
JNB
19h 35m
1 stop
R9 240Etihad Airways
Sat, Oct 3 - Sun, Oct 11
Etihad Airways Logo
9:45 - 12:35
JNB
-
IST
25h 50m
1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
13:50 - 8:20
IST
-
JNB
19h 30m
1 stop
R9 452Etihad Airways
Wed, Jul 22 - Wed, Jul 29
Etihad Airways Logo
9:50 - 13:05
JNB
-
IST
26h 15m
1 stop
Etihad Airways Logo
14:10 - 8:20
IST
-
JNB
19h 10m
1 stop
R9 501Etihad Airways
Wed, Sep 16 - Wed, Sep 23
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 18:35
CPT
-
IST
28h 20m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
20:05 - 17:30
IST
-
CPT
22h 25m
1 stop
R9 941Qatar Airways
Fri, Sep 11 - Sun, Sep 20
Qatar Airways Logo
19:30 - 12:15
CPT
-
IST
15h 45m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
20:05 - 17:30
IST
-
CPT
22h 25m
1 stop
R10 072Qatar Airways
Fri, Sep 11 - Mon, Sep 21
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 12:15
CPT
-
IST
22h 00m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
13:45 - 17:30
IST
-
CPT
28h 45m
1 stop
R10 088Qatar Airways
Fri, Sep 11 - Mon, Sep 21
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 12:15
CPT
-
IST
22h 00m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
13:45 - 17:30
IST
-
CPT
28h 45m
1 stop
R10 104Qatar Airways
Fri, Jul 24 - Fri, Jul 31
Emirates Logo
18:40 - 14:25
DUR
-
IST
18h 45m
1 stop
Emirates Logo
16:25 - 16:35
IST
-
DUR
25h 10m
1 stop
R11 799Emirates
Booking Insights

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 5 days.

In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Istanbul Airport was found on the route from Johannesburg, at R9 208 return. The most popular connection is from Cape Town to Istanbul Airport and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as R9 941 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 R13 072 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost R6 561 and departed from Cape Town. The most popular routes on KAYAK are Johannesburg to Istanbul Airport which costs R15 106 on average, and Cape Town to Istanbul Airport, which costs R18 440 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 R12 139. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, where round-trip prices are R13 280 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 R9 240 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and July, where the average cost of tickets from South Africa is R11 897 and R11 375 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is March with an average price of R10 626.

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 at night, when round-trip flights cost R12 048 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 R12 405.

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 R12 555 return, from Cape Town R15 418 return, from Durban R17 665 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 10 weeks before departure, which saves you about 10% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 12 weeks before departure.

Good to know – Book Cheap Istanbul Airport Plane Tickets

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flightR5 264
Best time to beat the crowds (9% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower 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 R9 208 return. The most popular connection is from Cape Town to Istanbul Airport and KAYAK users have found return deals for as low as R9 941 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 R13 072. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost R6 561 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.

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 Durban R12 575, from Johannesburg OR Tambo R22 585, from Cape Town R25 323
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Istanbul Airport flight deals.

Reviews of the 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.
8,1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3581 reviews
8,1Boarding
8,4Crew
8,2Entertainment
8,0Comfort
7,9Food
Airline reviews

As always Emirates is always dependent on the crew you get on the day and today was a good one. Everyone knew what they were doing and gracefully without hesitation . Great conversation all round even about the food and wine.

10,0 ExcellentWoei, May 2026
DXB - SIN
Read more Emirates reviews

As always Emirates is always dependent on the crew you get on the day and today was a good one. Everyone knew what they were doing and gracefully without hesitation . Great conversation all round even about the food and wine.

Everything was great except the boarding experience. After the check in, they "packed us" in a small area, very hot there. It would be nice to be aware of this, I'd wait on the outside area

Seat did not recline at all, wi-FI did not work at all. Those are both very unfortunate for a 14 hour flight. Crew and food was of course very nice as always.

I liked the newer aircraft CRJ-550 since it had WIFI and the seats are more spacious.

Fly Dubai takes low cost and thrift to new depths in terms of service levels, terminal 2 is grossly inadequate for capacity and resembles a crowded buss or railway station,, the fly dubai( Emirates) flight is never on time(was 2.5 hrs delayed), and this is not an isolated experience, the flght air conditioning was turned low while we waited on the tarmac for take clearance to save fuel, should say more!!!! The depths! I only fly this airline from a compulsion, emirates code shares for connections to Muscat

I liked everything: the service, the food, the cleanness. I flew last year with Qatar Airways, so I can compare. Emirates did much better! Especially their meals and service.

Emirates did great! I liked the service, the food, cleanness, and the flight was on time. Much better airline than Qatar Airways I flew with last year.

The main issue was that the flight from trivandrum to Dubai was delayed which resulted in arriving late in Dubai. Coincidentally the flight leaving out of Dubai to jfk was also delayed for different reason. Despite we reached the gate ( through wheel chair assistance) along with 10 other passengers we were not let in. The gate was open and yet was refrained from entering. We were then requested to flight the next morning. Meal vouchers were provided but the hotel reservations were not made and took a lot longer to receive that. If Emirates knew about the delay and was certain the passengers will not be able to board the next flight shouldn't they have prepared these ahead of time?

There is an issue with A380 when it arrives in Munich, because a business class passengers like me have to wait for the first class passengers to disembark, which takes some time while you are also offloading economy passengers this causes an issue at customs where your business class passengers end up behind a large bulk of economy passengers This is a frustration and the early dislocation should be and is supposed to be a benefit of business class

in today's time, an airline like emirates didnt serve drinks as requested, Excuse was full flight.

Qatar was pretty OK for their services but Arangrant was awful at theirs and frankly lied to me. Qatar offers four business class fares and only three of them allow lounge access. This is a horrible policy when you pay so much for business class and shame on them for denying the simple use of their lounges for this confusion. When I requested my business class ticket with Arangrant I knew this and specifically told them I would only purchase the lowest class business seat that would still permit me lounge access on all legs of my trip. They lied to me and said I did and then I was refused this service on my return flights. I had no less than 4-8 schedule changes and got screwed by a late departure from DCA on my double connection to JNB. I lost nearly a full day on my outbound and then had little to no use of the lounges on my outbound flights. To then be denied access on my return flights made the 27 hour trip home pretty awful. Kayak should no longer work with Arangrant as they are dishonest and liars. Qatar should price all four of their business class fares to include lounge access and stop the insanity they have forced on people. My return trip home nearly ruined my entire trip to South Africa and I blame Arangrant for telling me lies and for Qatar for offering insane rules and regulations on such expensive business class fares. For the money I paid to Qatar, I did not receive the full services I was promised. I will probably never use Arangrant and their ignorant services ever again. I will question whether I ever fly on Qatar Airways again as well. When you pay so much and get such little in return, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Arangrant gives the whole industry a bad name and Qatar is not far behind them. I can honestly say that the wretched service and way I was treated by both have soured me on travel companies and airlines. It is bad enough that we have an idiot, felon, racist and bigoted president and administration to contend with while he has started an illegal war, I did not expect to get screwed over by Arangrant and Qatar as well. Shame on all of you.

Flight canceled by JetBlue for no reason. No good alternatives provided.

Very difficult to check in and almost missed flight. No room in seats and had a middle seat. I tried to create an account and check in before to change seat and unable to. I do not understand why I wasn’t on a Qatar flight from on Bengalore to Doha when they left at the same time. Disappointed in the Kayak booking process.

Flight departed punctually on time. Unfortunately it seems because the destination airport is a secondary airport the airline sees it fit to operate a plane with lower comfort and offerings. There was no inflight entertainment, wifi or let alone a screen to at least track flight status for remaining flight time.

Our experience on the Doha to Hyderabad segment was extremely stressful due to prolonged delays and a lack of clear communication from the airline. We were traveling as a family, including children, and the uncertainty around timing and next steps caused significant distress. There was very little proactive information provided during the delay, and we were not given clear written explanations about what was happening or how long it might take. This made it difficult to manage the situation, especially while caring for children in a transit environment. In addition, one member of our party was ultimately unable to continue travel, which added to the emotional strain and disruption of the trip. Overall, the experience highlighted gaps in communication, customer care, and handling of unexpected situations. We are sharing this feedback so that future passengers, especially families, are supported with clearer communication and better assistance during irregular operations.

The seat cushions are absolutely lacking, not sure if they know the passengers are traveling for 14 hours straight, but the padding made our back and butt ache like crazy. The entertainment console had its own problems, either the headphone jack wasn't working or the power outlet via usb or ac outlet was not working. Not to mention the seat handles were not adjustable in some planes in the middle or on the aisle. Qatar/Indigo may be operating a very old fleet of planes to make as much profit as possible, but passengers may not be following them for long, should this treatment of its customers continue. Qatar/Indigo, wake up and do it right by your customers, or they may not be your customers anymore.

All great, because I was given a seat with extra legroom on this part of my trip.

I appreciated the vailability of wheelchair services for persons with mobility issues all the way up to the aircraft. What could be better would be the food choices.

It was little disheartening and disappointing. Although flight staff did a good job. But customer service didn’t do anything to resolve my issue.

Initial booking was confusing and had to get new CC issued.

Excellent experience with business class area. Staff was attentive and food was amazing. Only one bathroom for business class which was logistically difficult for the staff while preparing meals. Need to offer fluids with meals. I did not get enough water to drink. But overall I rate it 5 star.

On time. Great service, friendly crew. Great food. Everything went without a hitch. We will not hesitate to fly Turkish Airlines again.

It was great. The service was excellent and the timing was very good.

On time, great food, good drink selection! Only down was alcohol-free lounge. Lufthansa had a much better offering!

Seat assignments for family traveling with 2 children. Loud crowd during sleep time

It was crowded… the bathrooms dirty and smelly. The seats have been made even smaller.

delayed to take off from detroit by 3 hours lost baggage in istanbul and now in venice without baggage

I missed the flight during my lay over in Istanbul, due to health condition. Customer service was awful. It was a nightmare. I had to purchase a new flight to my destination and was told that my return flight is compromised due to one segment of the trip being missed. NOBODY responded to my numerous calls and emails. I will never use Turkish airline in the future.

I like Turkish airline, but the food sucks. None of my children eat the food, including me, and it was really hot and

The food menu was impressive but the actual selection limited. That said, the food was excellent. The seat cushions are less than comfortable for a 12 hour flight. Space i8n economy was very good. One first leg the layover was too short. Added with a delay in arrival we could barely made the connecting flight - but the luggage did not make it. It was sent in the next flight so in the end it was a mini=or inconvenience.

I payed for extra leg room but in last moment my seating place was changed and i got standard one seat. Staff was not able to do anything , so was very disappointed because of this.

It was very relaxing and staff were very quick to attend to any requests.

It was excellent service in the snow storm gives us hotel and transportation. It will be more better if u can add one more meal because it’s a long flight boring journey. If you give extra meal time passes faster and can enjoy the trip better

Dear Team, I purchased a full travel package that included 2 checked bags through you and JustFly. However, when I arrived at the airport, my ticket showed 0 checked bags. Since I was traveling internationally to India with 2 bags, It was a $200 per bag at the counter, which was extremely disappointing. For an international trip, why would I ever choose a no‑bag option for only $20–$30 less? This seems like an error in the booking process, and I am requesting clarification and a resolution. I have called JustFly and on phone for 1 hr :53 min and they couldn't help till I show some kind of proof etc which isn't possible but besides that love your service and using it for years !

Good one but just notice that you have to ask several time to get water or coffee .

Good service. But on flight to Kochi no entertainment except in app. And no working outlets to charge phone.

Dirty and smelly lavatory and toilets in Wamos Air operated flights

It was great! Kept the time. Provided what was promised

The crew could have been more friendly and could have offered to make the beds. Also, Ethiad should have more vegetarian food options.

From the start of my vacation at Logan Airport, Boston it was chaotic. I'm praying my flight home is better .I'm grateful that we landed safe

Everything was great, the infotainment system was glitching but this was not a big deal.

The flight was very smooth, however, the quality of food was mediocre.

To the Ethiopian Airlines Customer Relations Team, I am writing to formally express my disappointment regarding my recent travel experience with Ethiopian Airlines on . Unfortunately, the level of service provided fell significantly short of the standards I expected from your airline. I would like to highlight the following serious issues encountered during the journey: • Cabin Condition and Hygiene: The aircraft cabin was notably poorly maintained. The seating area was dirty, and there was a persistent, unpleasant odor throughout the flight, which made the environment very uncomfortable for passengers. • Inadequate Service: The overall level of service provided by the staff was unsatisfactory and did not reflect a professional passenger experience. • Baggage Loss: Upon arrival, I was informed that my luggage was lost. This is particularly distressing as it has caused significant personal inconvenience and disruption to my schedule. As a frequent traveler, I value reliability and a clean cabin environment. I request that you investigate these matters immediately, provide an update on the status of my missing baggage, and outline how you intend to compensate for these failures in service. I look forward to your prompt response and a resolution to my lost luggage claim. Sincerely, Puguh

A bit chaotic boarding flight but over all good experience.

The crew was unfriendly and very rude to name a few (Helina). I felt unsafe due to most of the cabinets were open while on flight. All in all the flight was ok, but the crew needed more training on customer service most of all for international flights.

The plane was old and the luggage racks above us were visibly shaking during turbulence. Water was dripping on our heads during landing. Our flight was over 2 hours late departing but we were not updated or told what to expect as the screen at the gate continued to read “on time”

Need to do a lot of improvement on service and cleaness

They only gave us 30 minutes to make an international connecting flight. We didn’t make the connection but they did do a good job rebooking us despite the chaos. Our bags didn’t make it back and their process for customer support is pretty bad when it comes to luggage.

My recent experience with ASKY Airlines was disappointing. The check-in process was disorganized, and I was provided with inaccurate information regarding baggage requirements, resulting in unforeseen expenses. Additionally, the ground staff demonstrated a lack of professionalism and appeared insufficiently trained to handle passenger needs effectively. Regrettably, this initial encounter has left me reluctant to consider future travel with the airline.

The Boeing 737 MAX on this route, flown in the middle of the night, is an UTTER FAILURE for business travellers. The whole point of business travel is to arrive alert and recover from travel quickly, and this little aeroplane with its quarter recline uncomfortable business seats does nothing for that. It’s a small step up from economy in that you have decent legroom, but that’s it. Absolute margin at the cost of the traveller.

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