Istanbul to Kigali (IST–KGL) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

IST Airport Page →
2,989 mi airlines 7/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 3 flights Verified 3h ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✓
→
TK606
TK Turkish
7M8
6:40 PM
+03
12:55 AM+1
CAT
7h 15m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
TK612
TK Turkish
7M8
6:40 PM
+03
12:55 AM+1
CAT
7h 15m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
TK569
TK Turkish
7M8
6:40 PM
+03
12:55 AM+1
CAT
7h 15m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-STOP
✧ 2-STOP Loading...
Istanbul to Kigali
1 carrier, 7 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 7 Flights/wk 2,989 mi 7h 15m nonstop -1h behind 6 1-stop hubs

IST–KGL is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 2,989 miles in approximately 7h 15m. Beyond nonstop, 6 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Also explore IST Routes KGL Routes IST Live Flights KGL Live Flights
Carriers on this route

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop IST–KGL service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
TK Turkish Airlines 7 7M8 7h15 – Star Alliance –
Aircraft on this route
7M8 Boeing 737 MAX 8 – TK
Alliance coverage
Star Alliance: TK (7 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, IST to KGL direction.
Mon
1
flight
Tue
1
flight
Wed
1
flight
Thu
1
flight
Fri
1
flight
Sat
1
flight
Sun
1
flight
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
3
Nonstop flights
7
Outbound / wk
0
Return / wk
Connections

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for IST to KGL.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
6
Hubs
~14h
Fastest
~29h
Longest
CAI ~14h 23m DOH ~18h 28m ADD ~20h 5m NBO ~20h 47m BRU ~29h 5m
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
442
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.
Know before you go

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-1h
Kigali is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
IST: +03 · KGL: CAT

When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 5:00 PM in Kigali.
Distance & Flight Time
2,989 mi / 4,811 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 7h 15m.
Visa & Entry

Turkish passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Rwanda for stays up to 30 days. The fee is USD 30. You can also apply for an eVisa in advance through the official portal at irembo.gov.rw. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. A return or onward ticket may be requested at immigration.

Verify entry requirements with official sources before travel.
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.

Facts

IST–KGL Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Istanbul to Kigali route.
Route details
Distance2,989 mi / 4,811 km
Flight time7h 15m
Time difference-1 hour
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights7 out
1-stop connections6 hubs
Origin: IST
Full nameİstanbul Airport
IATA / ICAOIST / LTFM
TimezoneEurope/Istanbul
Passengers/yr80.1M
Elevation325 ft / 99 m
Destination: KGL
Full nameKigali International Airport
IATA / ICAOKGL / HRYR
TimezoneAfrica/Kigali
Passengers/yr1.2M
Elevation4,859 ft / 1,481 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IST to KGL flights.
Nonstop flights from İstanbul Airport to Kigali International Airport take approximately 7h 15m. The route covers 2,989 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Turkish Airlines.
There are approximately 7 nonstop flights per week from IST to KGL.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through CAI, DOH, ADD, NBO, BRU and AMS. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Kigali is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
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 KGL

İstanbul Airport (IST) and Kigali International Airport (KGL) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines. With 7 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

IST to KGL Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from IST to KGL ranges from 7 hours 15 minutes. The route covers a distance of 2,989 miles (4,811 km).

Connecting Options and Alternatives

6 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 14 hours via CAI. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.