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$978 Find Cheap Flights to Istanbul Airport – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$1,866
Typical prices: $1,870-$2,540
China Southern
Thu 8/2Wed 28/2
CHC - IST • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way flight
$978
Typical prices: $1,091-$1,588
Multiple Airlines
Sun 21/10
CHC - IST • 3 stops
Top airlines
Best reviews • 8.1 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
Top routes
Cheapest • 20% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 22 weeks in advance save around 27% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 10% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Istanbul Airport!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Istanbul

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

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

Mon, 8 Feb - Sun, 28 Feb
China Southern Logo
22:30 - 07:10CHC  Christchurch-IST Istanbul
42h 40m1 stop Guangzhou Baiyun
China Southern Logo
14:10 - 17:20IST  Istanbul-CHC Christchurch
41h 10m1 stop Guangzhou Baiyun
$1,866China Southern
Thu, 4 Mar - Mon, 15 Mar
China Southern Logo
10:00 - 07:10AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
31h 10m1 stop Guangzhou Baiyun
China Southern Logo
14:10 - 16:15IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
40h 05m1 stop Guangzhou Baiyun
$1,936China Southern
Wed, 21 Oct - Tue, 27 Oct
Asiana Airlines Logo
09:00 - 16:10AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
41h 10m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Incheon Intl
Asiana Airlines Logo
21:55 - 17:00IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
33h 05m2 stops Incheon Intl Sydney Kingsford Smith
$1,967Asiana Airlines
Tue, 20 Oct - Tue, 27 Oct
Asiana Airlines Logo
16:25 - 16:10AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
33h 45m2 stops Sydney Kingsford Smith Incheon Intl
Asiana Airlines Logo
21:55 - 17:00IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
33h 05m2 stops Incheon Intl Sydney Kingsford Smith
$1,969Asiana Airlines
Fri, 5 Mar - Wed, 17 Mar
Air China Logo
20:30 - 08:20AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
45h 50m1 stop Beijing Capital
Air China Logo
14:55 - 17:35IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
40h 40m1 stop Beijing Capital
$2,098Air China
Fri, 5 Mar - Wed, 17 Mar
Air China Logo
20:30 - 08:20AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
45h 50m1 stop Beijing Capital
Air China Logo
14:55 - 17:35IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
40h 40m1 stop Beijing Capital
$2,098Air China
Wed, 18 Nov - Sun, 6 Dec
China Eastern Logo
22:00 - 08:10AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
44h 10m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong
China Eastern Logo
13:35 - 16:35IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
41h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong
$2,216China Eastern
Sat, 17 Oct - Mon, 2 Nov
China Eastern Logo
10:45 - 08:10AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
31h 25m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong
China Eastern Logo
13:35 - 16:35IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
41h 00m1 stop Shanghai Pu Dong
$2,341China Eastern
Mon, 1 Mar - Thu, 18 Mar
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 07:00AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
27h 45m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
13:50 - 06:50IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
31h 00m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
$2,486Qatar Airways
Thu, 25 Feb - Thu, 11 Mar
Qatar Airways Logo
13:15 - 07:00AKL  Auckland Intl-IST Istanbul
27h 45m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
13:50 - 06:50IST  Istanbul-AKL Auckland Intl
31h 00m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
$2,488Qatar Airways
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for New Zealand to Istanbul Airport flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from New Zealand to Istanbul Airport with more confidence.

What is the cheapest flight to Istanbul Airport?

Christchurch to Istanbul Airport is the cheapest route at $1,866 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. Auckland to Istanbul Airport is the most popular connection with return deals from $1,936.

How much is a flight to Istanbul Airport?

A return flight to Istanbul Airport costs $2,152 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Auckland average $2,101, while Dunedin runs a bit higher at $2,200.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul Airport?

Monday is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul Airport at $2,131 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Thursday is the most expensive at $2,288.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport?

  • February is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport with an average price of $1,934 return.
  • December ($2,447) and September ($2,363) are the most expensive.
  • Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

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

Morning flights to Istanbul Airport are the cheapest at $2,103 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at $2,525.

What is a good deal for flights to Istanbul Airport?

Flights under $1,870 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to Istanbul Airport at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:

  • Auckland $1,847
.

When are flights to Istanbul Airport the cheapest?

Flights to Istanbul Airport are cheapest 22 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 27% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for flights to Istanbul Airport

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$978
Best time to beat the crowds (1% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (3% more expensive on average)
Flights from Christchurch 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

Your questions about flights to Istanbul Airport, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Istanbul Airport?

    United Airlines operates the most flights from New Zealand to Istanbul Airport at 0 per week, while China Southern is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from New Zealand to Istanbul Airport. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airports serve Istanbul and the surrounding area?

    Flights to Istanbul can arrive at several major airports serving the metro area, including Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

  • How do I know if a flight to Istanbul Airport is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Istanbul Airport is around $1,870 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Istanbul Airport?

    Last-minute fares to Istanbul Airport – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 21% above the average return fare of $2,152.

Your guide to booking Istanbul Airport flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Istanbul Airport, aim to book around 22 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 27% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Istanbul Airport, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around $1,870 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Istanbul Airport in February. Return fares historically average $1,934 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to morning to save up to $422 per return. Morning flights to Istanbul Airport average $2,103 compared to $2,525 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Once you arrive in Istanbul Airport, a few great places to start are Taksim, Sultan Ahmet Camii, and Taksim Square. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Istanbul

 
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 3657 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.4Crew
7.9Food
8.1Boarding
8.2Entertainment
Airline reviews

What a great trip . From check in to the upgrade we received a big shout out to Cleverson who was able to help us navigate the whole process super patient and was just one of the best customer service experiences we received in a very long time . The amazing staff on the flight who went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable amazing food and service if you have te opportunity to upgrade it's a must and well worth it.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Apr 2026
Read more Emirates reviews

What a great trip . From check in to the upgrade we received a big shout out to Cleverson who was able to help us navigate the whole process super patient and was just one of the best customer service experiences we received in a very long time . The amazing staff on the flight who went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable amazing food and service if you have te opportunity to upgrade it's a must and well worth it.

The crew were absolutely fantastic. They actively asked if passengers wanted refills and if they were comfortable. I was extremely impressed.

Emirates A380s are always wonderful to fly on. Their crews, food and service are always excellent. They are typically on time and the only thing I would change (maybe newer or upgraded aircraft have this) is bluetooth so I can pair my noise cancelling headphones without a cable.

Premium economy was worth it-comfort was definitely better than economy class. The seats were more comfortable, blankets and pillows thicker

Thay crew was so nice.Air hostess il ham was so nice.my mom was little scray with airplan turbulence she help us alot.

The flight experience was good, but connection time was cut shorted because of delayed start.. it would have been helpful if the flight showed which gate/terminal we need to go for connecting flight and flight timing was less than 30 minutes to connect which made ourselves stressful to catch next flight 😔

Very good ..nice comfort..crew service was good..and no delays in time ..they always on time..

More leg room and comfortable seats at least for long flights

For such a long flight I feel the spacing of seats could’ve been better to make it more comfortable for passengers. Very little space to move & stretch legs.

Check in and check out procedures Check in and onboarding was delayed by interval of 15 minutes .. total delayed by 90 minutes Bags took more than 2 hours to come out at Bali airport .. a very big wait after a 30 hour flight Bags were delayed for a very big crowd … 2 flights came in and their passengers were out sooner than ours

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.

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

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

No separate queue for business class/platinum passengers. I had to stay in the long queue to board. I requested breakfast before landing, but the crew didn't offer, except a coffee with milk. No tea with milk was available. Had asked for cookies, but didn't receive them. The crew in the business class was not good in terms of service..

Only negative was dostancevto transfer in Doha with no big golf carts to help us. Walked over 2 miles.

Seats were not comfortable and touch free remote wasn’t working.

Trop from plane to gate at Qatar airport was very long .

I was not able to check in online before the travel. It showed some error. I remember I could not do this during my onward journey. I called Qatar and they said there was a glitch.

BLR boarding is total pathetic. Should not fly Qatar from Bengaluru. Check in staff is too rude there

The flight was mostly good, but I sat next to a couple of passengers who were semi unpleasant. We sat next to the emergency exit. One man was drunk and when he got up to get something from the overhead compartment, he tripped and fell on me while I was sleeping, waking me up. The other man seemed sick as he was sneezing a lot and clearing his throat and nose often. This made the flight a bit unpleasant unfortunately. Otherwise I’m usually very happy with QA. Thanks

My first time in business class The in flt staff was outstanding in every aspect of service, the food was amazing, the business seat space made the 11 hour journey easy peazy

It was good, but always can be better. The airplane was old.

I am a US citizen coming from Uganda to IST to LAX I was to be rerouted to Houston for Ebola health screen at no extra charge per TA app. At IST Turkish counter 4, they refused to reroute me to Houston unless I paid $1000. Finally, they said they would route me to Houston at no charge but not to LAX. SO I PUT OUT AN EXTRA $300 for Delta to LAX. IF THE US HAS A MANDATORY HEALTH SCREEN, THE AIRLINE NEEDS TO COMPENSATE THE PASSENGER NO EXTRA CHARGE TO FINAL DESTINATION

I always travel on Turkish Airlines but seriously I am I am considering to change because this is not the first time that the flight attendant are rude and they dont help. I asked for cold water with ice 5 times and I got water with no ice and this is not the first time to ask for something and you dont get it. Also I noticed this behavior only towards people who are not turkish.

Will be better if the flight will be on time

There were not enough extra leg room options to purchase. Also the seat Infront of mine was broken and the gentleman literally laid back into my lap for the whole trip. This was the most uncomfortable trip I have ever been on

A lot of things can be done to improve in flight experience

My flight was diverted to a different airport, not my intended destination. My initial flight was scheduled to Chicago Airport, but they changed it to Washington with just under 8 hours before my departure. As a result, I had to pay an additional $700 to book a new flight to my final destination. I tried contacting Kayak, but they were unable to assist me, even after purchasing travel insurance.

late arrival on a TK flight meant I missed my next TA flight. Had to wait a day to get a flight and they would not reschedule me all the way back to Denver. I had to buy a last-minute ticket from Washington Dulles to Denver on top of paying over $6000 for a business class ticket. I don't think I would ever fly Turkish Air again.

It was great. Left the gate left and my television didn’t work but it was great otherwise.

Poor seats. Not helpful crew. The food was awful.overall very very bad experience. Traveled with the family of 5

Overall I had good experience with China Southern airline. Nothing to claim. I hoped they could improve the meal quality that is.

Wow very impressed by the quality and attentiveness of service of China Southern. Lived the blankets! Will definitely fly with them again. Despite language barriers, a few attendants know enough English to understand our rudimentary Mandarin and respond to basic questions. Although they don’t explain the beverage and meal service on the website or ticketing documents, they offered regular beverage cart and snacks during the beginning hours and end hours of the long, transoceanic flight. A full meal at the beginning and end of the flight as well, and a midflight small sandwich (dinner roll sized) but we weren’t hungry and didn’t try that one. The expectation is that every sleeps during the middle of the flight. We were on a “redeye” departure from LAX with a morning arrival in China, so I don’t know if this service pattern is the same for other flights. The domestic flight we took from Guangzhou to Harbin offered conventional refreshments and meals like a US flight service. Note that they didn’t offer diet sodas. If you like to stay hydrated, I recommend bringing plenty of your own. It is served in small cups like any other drink. You can ask for a bottle but they’re tiny - about 6 ounces.

The back of the chair - premium economy could not move back - not worth the price

Crew: Everybody was polite. People just need to get efficient and less reworking things. Entertainment: Could have move movies and games. The “music” section is a joke, only ONE available. Food: The food provided on the flights boarding in china needs a serious reworking. Too much oil, bad for your stomach, tastes too artificial and the eggs were a giant mass of green dough.

Food was terrible. Fish was equal to a sausage and scrumbled eggs were terribly green with a quite weird fllavour. Everybody with me hated all options. The best food was the bread with butter.

I love flying Chinese airlines in general but China Southern is probably the worst of the lot. The service is poor and food is below par.

Flight canceled, but they didn't notify me. They arranged a nearby hotel and 4 meals for me to stay for 24 hours before I could board.

Wuhan - Dubai. Old plane: 1. Only USB charger. No power outlet to plug in.. 2. Super narrow seat layout 3. Toilet cover consistently fell down and hit my back when sitting on it.. :( 4. Entertainment system touch screen not sensitive, and need to press hard or use finger tips to hit. Crew were very nice and accommodating though.

No good but was short flight. Both of our China Southern flights were on time. No surprises.

Broken business class seat which could not convert into a bed and had to switch to a narrower aisle seat to sleep

CTU-KMG-CNX with 1.5 hr connection at KMG. Doable but just barely bc immigration exit from China is at the last flight leg, here: KMG to CNX. We hauled out of the domestic terminal to reenter at the international departures (luggage checked thru to CNX thankfully). Immigration had only two agents, even though KMG gets a HUGE number of foreigners. It took forever for such a shot line. Then security also took a while, so I just just made the connection. Recommend if you exit China with domestic international transfer, plan for 2+ hrs to avoid a heart attack. Airline personnel don’t suffer if you miss the flight, you do. Plan accordingly.

China Eastern as a member of Sky Alliance airlines should have the same standards overall of their partners, Besides the seats comforts everything else is bellow the standard for a business class travelers.

Flight was on time. My group paid for seat’s so that us four can be seated next to each other. We all got separated. We all got middle seats, which made it more difficult to be able to get up and stretch or use the restroom. We tried talking to the employees at China Eastern and they were of no help. We will not be taking this flight or recommend this route to others in the future. Also I will be contacting customer service on how I can get our money back for paying for assigned seats.

The crew were excellent, service amazing, blankets and pillow good, cabin temperature perfect, the flight on time, food was unusual selection however plentiful, price for tickets unbeatable through Kayak. Older aeroplanes used by China Eastern was the only down side.

Good airline for the price. The Air stewardess are great, nothing is to much trouble. Will use again.

Gatwick London-Shanghai -Bangkok.. Would have liked entertainment screens, but I know these planes are not that new. Cheap flights at the time of booking, Emirates wanted double so you get what you paid for. I would fly again with them, but if Emirates was the same price I would go with them.

Couldn’t fly since they wouldn’t issue a boarding ticket. Something to do with not taking the departing flight since it was cancelled due to weather. No notice or anything about the trip being invalid. The app made it seem like I was all good for it. Never trusting travel agency

2 hours delay on the 1st plane out of the day!!!!!

I will never fly through China again. Maybe it was the mandatory retinal scan just to transfer to another flight or the complete set of fingerprints they require. There are many better and inexpensive flights to Asia if you look.

More options for your flight to Istanbul