$126 Find Cheap Flights from Athens to Istanbul – Compare and Save

Among airlines operating Athens to Istanbul Airport flights:

• Aegean Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

4 airlines operate flights between Athens and Istanbul Airport. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Turkish Airlines
• Aegean Airlines
• Sky Express
• Sichuan Airlines

Flights from Athens to Istanbul Airport usually depart from Athens Eleftherios V. (ATH) and arrive at Istanbul (IST).

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

• Aegean Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Sky Express: 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 Athens to Istanbul Airport:

• Economy class
• Business Class

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average $204 return, compared with $332 via a stopover through Heraklion N. Kazantzakis Apt. (HER).

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $39–$139 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 Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320neo variants.

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

• Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) – 40% of one-stop connections
• Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC) – 40% of one-stop connections
• Heraklion N. Kazantzakis Apt. (HER) – 20% of one-stop connections

Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 15% on the Athens to Istanbul Airport route. Monday is the cheapest departure day at $190 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $223, a difference of $33. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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 Athens to Istanbul Airport route, 12% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 48 minutes.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Athens to Istanbul Airport flights, with 34% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, Night flights for 22%, and Evening flights for 11%.

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 Athens to Istanbul Airport:

• Earliest: departs at 00:40 and lands at 02:14
• Latest: departs at 22:00 and lands at 23:34.

The flight takes about 1h 34m.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within 2 weeks of departure) run 20% above the route average of $205. Book 12 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

A direct flight from Athens to Istanbul Airport takes 1h 34m, covering 890 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 Athens to Istanbul Airport are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $138, which is 10% below the typical average for this route.

Sky Express is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Sichuan Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Athens to Istanbul Airport flights are:

• Sky Express: 96% on time
• Sichuan Airlines: 93% on time
• Aegean Airlines: 89% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 88% of the time.

Morning 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 Heraklion N. Kazantzakis Apt. (HER) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 8h 11m, compared to 9h 50m via Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG) and 12h 55m via Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC).

Istanbul Airport (IST) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:
· CIRCULAR
· Avec Car Rental
· Ok Mobility
· Alamo
· Autounion Car Rental

Return flights from Athens to Istanbul Airport range from $155 to $262, with an average of $205 over the past 12 months. Anything below $155 counts as a good deal.