Malé to Istanbul (MLE–IST) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

MLE Airport Page →
3,769 mi airlines 10/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 3h ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✓
→
TK741
TK Turkish
789
9:15 AM
+05
3:45 PM
+03
8h 30m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
TK735
TK Turkish
333
9:55 PM
+05
4:40 AM+1
+03
8h 45m
—
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...
Malé to Istanbul
1 carrier, 10 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 10 Flights/wk 3,769 mi 8h 30m nonstop -2h behind 23 1-stop hubs

MLE–IST is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 3,769 miles in approximately 8h 30m. Beyond nonstop, 23 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

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

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop MLE–IST service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
TK Turkish Airlines 10 333, 789 8h30-8h45 – Star Alliance –
Aircraft on this route
333 Airbus A330-300 – TK
789 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – TK
Alliance coverage
Star Alliance: TK (10 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, MLE to IST direction.
Mon
1
flight
Tue
2
flights
Wed
1
flight
Thu
1
flight
Fri
2
flights
Sat
1
flight
Sun
2
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
2
Nonstop flights
10
Outbound / wk
0
Return / wk
Connections

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for MLE to IST.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
23
Hubs
~13h
Fastest
~34h
Longest
BAH ~13h 45m BOM ~17h 40m BKK ~19h 20m JED ~20h 45m HKG ~20h 50m
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,698
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
-2h
Istanbul is 2 hours behind Malé.
MLE: +05 · IST: +03

When it's 6:00 PM in Malé, it's 4:00 PM in Istanbul.
Distance & Flight Time
3,769 mi / 6,065 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 8h 30m to 8h 45m.
Getting from IST

M11 Metro to Gayrettepe takes about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart) with connections to M2 (Taksim) and M7. Runs from 5am to midnight. The metro bypasses O-7 motorway traffic, which is frequently heavy into the city.Havaist buses serve major destinations including Taksim, Kadıköy (European and Asian sides), and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (₺50–80). Taxis from arrivals are metered; insist on the meter. Journey to Sultanahmet or Taksim costs ₺400–700 depending on traffic. Rental cars available. Hotel shuttles common for business hotels near the city.

Istanbul Climate

The new airport sits 35km from central Istanbul on the European side, slightly inland and exposed to Black Sea weather systems. Winters (December–March) are cold (0–8°C) with fog, rain, and occasional snow. Snow on the exposed plateau is more likely than in the city. Ice on taxiways causes delays.

Summers are warm (25–32°C) with dry, reliable weather. Spring and fall bring heavy rain and strong northerly winds (Poyraz) that can affect smaller aircraft. Fog is the primary low-season disruption risk. The airport's elevated position makes it slightly windier than the Atatürk site it replaced.

Check current weather forecasts before travel.
Facts

MLE–IST Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Malé to Istanbul route.
Route details
Distance3,769 mi / 6,065 km
Flight time8h 30m to 8h 45m
Time difference-2 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights10 out
1-stop connections23 hubs
Origin: MLE
Full nameVelana International Airport
IATA / ICAOMLE / VRMM
TimezoneIndian/Maldives
Passengers/yr4.0M
Elevation6 ft / 2 m
Destination: IST
Full nameİstanbul Airport
IATA / ICAOIST / LTFM
TimezoneEurope/Istanbul
Passengers/yr80.1M
Elevation325 ft / 99 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MLE to IST flights.
Nonstop flights from Velana International Airport to İstanbul Airport take approximately 8h 30m to 8h 45m. The route covers 3,769 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Turkish Airlines.
There are approximately 10 nonstop flights per week from MLE to IST.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through BAH, BOM, BKK, JED, HKG, CMB, DOH, DAC, DXB, DEL, SVO, SIN, AUH, VKO, FCO, KUL, ZRH, VIE, SHJ, PVG, PEK, FRA and LHR. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Istanbul is 2 hours behind Malé.
Yes, return flights from IST to MLE 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 MLE to IST

Velana International Airport (MLE) and İstanbul Airport (IST) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines. With 10 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

MLE to IST Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from MLE to IST ranges from 8 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 45 minutes. The route covers a distance of 3,769 miles (6,065 km).

Connecting Options and Alternatives

23 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 13 hours via BAH. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.