Flights London → Istanbul
LGW → IST
How long is the flight from London to Istanbul?
The flight from London (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) takes about 3h 30m. This is an estimate based on the distance between the two airports: the real time depends on the aircraft, wind and any stops.
Route overview
The flight route connects London to Istanbul, operating with a mix of aircraft including the Boeing 737-900, Airbus A321, and Boeing 737-800. The destination airport in Istanbul opened in 2018 and serves over 84 million passengers annually.
The London (LGW) → Istanbul (IST) route is operated by Turkish Airlines. FlightGuard's average computed risk is 7.9/100 (low), updated in real time from weather, ATC delays, strikes, NOTAMs, fuel and flight history. At Istanbul the average ATFM delay is 3.5 minutes (main cause: atfm). Departing from London the average ATFM delay is 1.8 minutes.
Heading to Istanbul: what to expect in this direction
Flying from London (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) heads east for about 2,460 km, a flight time of roughly 3h 30m.
Air-traffic congestion: departing London the average ATFM delay is 1.8 min (atfm); arriving into Istanbul it is 3.5 min (atfm).
Route facts
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Airlines operating LGW-IST
Frequently asked questions about LGW-IST
The flight from London (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) takes about 3h 30m. This is an estimate based on the distance between the two airports: the real time depends on the aircraft, wind and any stops.
Route-specific punctuality data isn't available yet. Check your flight on FlightGuard for a real-time analysis.
The cancellation rate varies by airline and season. Check your flight risk for an up-to-date estimate.
The route is operated by 1 airline: Turkish Airlines.
Enter your flight number on FlightGuard for a real-time analysis based on 9 factors: weather at Istanbul, ATC delays, strikes, NOTAMs, fuel, airline punctuality and recent trends.
The London-Istanbul route is about 2,460 km: for a cancellation (with less than 14 days' notice), a delay over 3 hours, or denied boarding, UK261 compensation is £350, barring extraordinary circumstances.