Istanbul to Cape Town (IST–CPT) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

IST Airport Page →
5,239 mi airlines 14/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 4 flights Verified 1h ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
TK44
TK Turkish
359
1:55 AM
+03
11:42 AM
SAST
10h 47m
M T W T F S S
Prices
6E4327
6E IndiGo
359
1:55 AM
+03
11:50 AM
SAST
10h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
6E4328
6E IndiGo
359
5:15 PM
SAST
5:35 AM+1
+03
11h 20m
M T W T F S S
Prices
TK45
TK Turkish
359
5:15 PM
SAST
5:35 AM+1
+03
11h 20m
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
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Istanbul to Cape Town
2 carriers, 14 flights/week nonstop.
2 Airlines 14 Flights/wk 5,239 mi 10h 47m nonstop -1h behind 16 1-stop hubs

IST–CPT is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. IndiGo and Turkish Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 5,239 miles in approximately 10h 47m. Beyond nonstop, 16 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop IST–CPT service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
6E IndiGo 7 359 10h55
TK Turkish Airlines 7 359 10h47 Star Alliance
Aircraft on this route
359 Airbus A350-900 – 6E, TK
Alliance coverage
Unaffiliated: 6E (7 flights/wk, 50%)
Star Alliance: TK (7 flights/wk, 50%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, IST to CPT direction.
Mon
2
flights
Tue
2
flights
Wed
2
flights
Thu
2
flights
Fri
2
flights
Sat
2
flights
Sun
2
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
2
Nonstop flights
14
Outbound / wk
14
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for IST to CPT.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
16
Hubs
~17h
Fastest
~46h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,268
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-1h
Cape Town is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
IST: +03 · CPT: SAST

When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 5:00 PM in Cape Town.
Distance & Flight Time
5,239 mi / 8,431 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 10h 47m to 10h 55m.
Visa & Entry

Turkish passport holders enter South Africa visa-free for stays up to 30 days. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the intended departure from South Africa with at least 2 blank pages. A return or onward ticket may be requested at immigration.

Getting to IST

Istanbul Metro M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Havalimanı line connects the airport to the broader metro network; from Gayrettepe (Mecidiyeköy/Levent area) the journey is about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart). The line runs roughly 5am to midnight.Havaist express buses serve Taksim, Kadıköy, and other major hubs (₺50–80, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Taxis use a meter; expect ₺400–600 from Taksim or Sultanahmet. The airport is 35km northwest of the city; traffic on the O-7 motorway can be severe during peak hours.

IST–CPT Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Istanbul to Cape Town route.
Route details
Distance5,239 mi / 8,431 km
Flight time10h 47m to 10h 55m
Time difference-1 hour
Airlines (nonstop)2
Weekly flights14 out / 14 return
1-stop connections16 hubs
Origin: IST
IATA / ICAOIST / LTFM
TimezoneEurope/Istanbul
Passengers/yr80.1M
Elevation325 ft / 99 m
Destination: CPT
IATA / ICAOCPT / FACT
TimezoneAfrica/Johannesburg
Passengers/yr10.4M
Elevation151 ft / 46 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IST to CPT flights.
Nonstop flights from İstanbul Airport to Cape Town International Airport take approximately 10h 47m to 10h 55m. The route covers 5,239 miles.
2 airlines operate nonstop service: IndiGo and Turkish Airlines.
There are approximately 14 nonstop flights per week from IST to CPT. The return direction has about 14 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through NBO, ADD, JNB, MUC, LHR, DOH, ZRH, DXB, FRA, CDG, LGW, AMS, ATL, GRU, IAD and EWR. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Cape Town is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
Yes, return flights from CPT to IST are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from IST to CPT

İstanbul Airport (IST) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) are connected by nonstop service from IndiGo and Turkish Airlines. With 14 weekly departures, this is a well served route.

IST to CPT Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from IST to CPT ranges from 10 hours 47 minutes to 10 hours 55 minutes. The route covers a distance of 5,239 miles (8,431 km). There are approximately 14 weekly flights outbound and 14 return, totaling 28 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

16 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 17 hours via NBO. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.