Istanbul to London, Essex (IST–STN) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
IST–STN is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines and SunExpress lead the route. The flight covers 1,525 miles in approximately 3h 58m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines | 14 | 33X, 73H, 7M8 | 3h50-4h05 | – | Star Alliance | – |
| XQ SunExpress | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach London, Essex from Istanbul
| Metric | IST→STN | SAW→STN | BOJ→STN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from IST | – | 40 mi | 109 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 14 | 103 | 2 |
| Flight time | 3h 58m | 3h 24m | 3h 40m |
Travel Essentials
IST: +03 · STN: BST
When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 4:00 PM in London, Essex.
Turkish passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom. Apply online at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa, pay the GBP 115 fee (about TRY 5,290), and book a biometric appointment at a VFS Global center in Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir. Required documents include a completed online form, passport, proof of funds (bank statements for at least 6 months), accommodation details, a return ticket, and an employment or business letter. Passport must be valid for the duration of the stay. Processing takes about 3 weeks, with priority service (5 to 7 working days) available for an extra fee.
The Standard Visitor visa allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, business meetings, and family visits. It is not valid for employment. Multi-entry visit visas valid for 2, 5, or 10 years are available (GBP 400, GBP 771, or GBP 963), allowing repeated visits of up to 6 months each. Turkey's large diaspora in the UK (over 500,000 people) means family visit applications are common. Turkish nationals with a valid UK visa can also use the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme to visit Ireland without a separate Irish visa.
Direct flights from Istanbul (IST) to London Heathrow (LHR) run about 4 hours on Turkish Airlines and British Airways. Istanbul to Gatwick (LGW) and Stansted (STN) also have direct service on Pegasus and other carriers. The UK uses the British pound (GBP), trading at roughly 46 TRY per GBP 1. Card payments work everywhere, including contactless on London buses and the Tube. An Oyster card or contactless bank card gives the best fares on Transport for London: GBP 1.75 per bus ride, GBP 2.80 to GBP 3.40 per Tube ride, with daily caps.
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–STN Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IST to STN
İstanbul Airport (IST) and London Stansted Airport (STN) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines and SunExpress. With 14 weekly departures, this is a well served route.
IST to STN Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IST to STN is about 3 hours 58 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 1,525 miles (2,455 km). There are approximately 14 weekly flights outbound and 16 return, totaling 30 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Václav Havel, Budapest Liszt Ferenc and Berlin Brandenburg. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Pendik, Istanbul (SAW) and Burgas (BOJ).