AED 510 Find Cheap Flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport – Compare and Save

2 airlines operate flights between Abu Dhabi and Istanbul Airport. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Turkish Airlines
• Etihad Airways

Flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport usually depart from Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl (AUH) and arrive at Istanbul (IST).

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

• Etihad Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Turkish Airlines: 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.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport:

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average AED 1,230 return via Kuwait City (KWI), compared with AED 1,356 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge AED 119–AED 294 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Airbus A321neo family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A321-100/200 variants.

One-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport most commonly connect through:

• Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) – 64% of one-stop connections
• Manama Bahrain Intl (BAH) – 21% of one-stop connections
• Amman Queen Alia Intl (AMM) – 6% of one-stop connections
• Muscat Seeb (MCT) – 4% of one-stop connections

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

On the Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 15%. Sunday is the cheapest day at AED 1,329 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at AED 1,561 – a AED 231 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

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 Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport route, 15% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 48 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Night departures account for 50%, Afternoon flights for 0%, and Evening flights for 0%.

Some of the most popular sights in Istanbul Airport are Taksim, Taksim Square, and Istanbul City Centre. These are among the most viewed places in Istanbul Airport on KAYAK.

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport:

• Earliest: departs at 01:30 and lands at 06:36
• Latest: departs at 08:45 and lands at 13:51.

The flight takes about 5h 06m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 12% above the route average of AED 1,402. Book 22 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport takes 5h 06m, covering 4,888 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.

One-way fares from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about AED 798.

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.

Flying via Manama Bahrain Intl (BAH) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 7h 34m, compared to 8h 28m via Doha Hamad Intl (DOH) and 9h 15m via Cairo (CAI).

Istanbul Airport is 1 hour behind Abu Dhabi (Turkey Time vs Gulf Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Istanbul Airport (IST) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around AED 39 for economy cars. Top options include:
• CIRCULAR
• Avec Car Rental
• Ok Mobility
• Alamo
• Autounion Car Rental

Return flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul Airport range from AED 1,107 to AED 1,986, with an average of AED 1,402 over the past 12 months. Anything below AED 1,107 counts as a good deal.