Cheap flights from South Africa to Istanbul from R5 197

The month of February is, on average, the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport from South Africa, with most prices found around R9 628. If you are unable to visit Istanbul Airport during the month of February, then departing from South Africa during the month November is also very affordable. Most momondo users find prices during this month for around R9 832.

Our data shows that Tuesday is the least expensive day to fly to Istanbul Airport. Tickets to fly out on this day can be as low as R12 446. When flying out on a Saturday, the most expensive travel day of the week, you can expect to see flight prices from South Africa to Istanbul Airport for around R13 782.

Our most recent data shows that the best time of day to fly to Istanbul Airport is in the evening. Flights from South Africa to Istanbul Airport during this time can be as low as R12 728. If you have a flexible travel schedule, then try to avoid flying in the afternoon when prices are R13 156 on average. Flights to Istanbul Airport from South Africa in the afternoon are generally more expensive because this time of day is more convenient for travellers’ schedules.

Fly from Durban King Shaka Intl to Istanbul for the best South Africa - Istanbul flight prices

You are more likely to see cheaper flights to Istanbul Airport from South Africa when booking weeks ahead of your departure date. In general, you can expect to find flights to Istanbul Airport for around R10 834 when searching weeks before you fly. However, flight prices might be lower outside of this timeframe. For example, people recently found flights to Istanbul Airport from South Africa for as low as R10 190 on momondo.

There are 3 cabin classes available to choose from on South Africa to Istanbul flights. Cabin price and availability will vary by airline so perform a search above to find the right deals for you.

Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Emirates are the most popular carriers operating from South Africa to Istanbul

Qatar Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines are the top three most popular airlines that fly to Istanbul Airport from South Africa according to our data. Qatar Airways is the first choice among our users, with 53% of people opting to fly with this airline when travelling to Istanbul Airport. Keep in mind that there are 11 different airlines that fly to Istanbul Airport on a routine basis, so you have a few additional options to choose from.

Historically, on average around 9% of flights between South Africa and Istanbul have experienced a delay on any given week. The average delay length over the past 12 months has been 137 minutes.

Generally, flights departing in the early afternoon tend to experience fewer delays. Flights departing in the morning have, in the past, seen delays more frequently in comparison.

Wednesday is statistically the day of the week that experiences the fewest delays on this flight route. Sunday has historically seen more delays on average compared to the rest of the week.

According to our data, Turkish Airlines have had the fewest delays on this route over the last 12 months, with about 9% of their flights experiencing any sort of delay.

As of March 2026, there are 3 flights per day flying from South Africa to Istanbul Airport. The most common time of day flights depart is 17:00, with 58% of flights taking off in the afternoon.

As of March 2026, 21 flights take off from South Africa and land in Istanbul Airport each week. The most common flight departure day for this route is Wed, with 33% of weekly flights taking off on this day.