İstanbul Airport
Istanbul, TürkiyeIST / LTFM
International hub · 116 direct destinations · 6 runways · longest runway 13,451 ft
54 °F · RainSource: METAR observation via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center
Route
Istanbul → Abu Dhabi
IST
Istanbulİstanbul Airport
Istanbulİstanbul AirportAUH
Abu DhabiZayed International Airport
Abu DhabiZayed International Airport- Distance
- 1,889 mi
- Estimated flight time
- ~4h 20m
Abu Dhabi is currently 1 hour ahead of Istanbul.
Observed nonstop
How often does this route fly?
Frequency
Daily at most
On average around 1 flights a day, observed from October 2025 to September 2026.
- 1
- flights per day
- 1
- busiest month · Jan
- 3 hr 59 min
- measured flight time
- 3 / 12
- months seen
Through the year
Per day, month by month
- 1Jan2026
- –Feb
- –Mar
- –Apr
- –May
- –Jun
- 1Jul
- 1Aug
- –Sep
- –Oct2025
- –Nov
- –Dec
In October 2025, November 2025, December 2025 we saw less traffic at Istanbul in general than usual; compare that month with care.
In February 2026, September 2026 we do not see this direction because of limited reception; the opposite direction is seen.
Airlines
Who flies it
Etihad Airwaysnow and then
Through the day
Departure times
Local time in Istanbul. Most departures between 12:00 and 15:00.
- 00:00
- 01:00
- 02:00
- 03:00
- 04:00
- 05:00
- 06:00
- 07:00
- 08:00
- 09:00
- 10:00
- 11:00
- 12:00
- 13:00
- 14:00
- 15:00
- 16:00
- 17:00
- 18:00
- 19:00
- 20:00
- 21:00
- 22:00
- 23:00
Through the week
By weekday
- 0Mon
- 0Tue
- 0.1Wed
- 0.1Thu
- 0Fri
- 0Sat
- 0Sun
Fleet
Aircraft observed
- Airbus A321neoA21N63%
- Airbus A320A32025%
All the numbers in a table
| Month | Per day | Seen | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 1 | 4 |
|
| February 2026 | We do not see this direction because of limited reception; the opposite direction is seen. | ||
| March 2026 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| April 2026 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| May 2026 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| June 2026 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| July 2026 | 1 | 2 |
|
| August 2026 | 1 | 2 |
|
| September 2026 | We do not see this direction because of limited reception; the opposite direction is seen. | ||
| October 2025 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| November 2025 | Not seen in this month. | ||
| December 2025 | Not seen in this month. | ||
Airlines observed on this route
From observed callsign routes on IST-AUH - not a booking guarantee.
About this route
- Intercontinental: this route connects two continents.
- The opposite direction has also been observed as a direct connection.
- Direct destinations observed from Istanbul: 116.
- Direct destinations observed from Abu Dhabi: 92.
The airports on this route
Zayed International Airport
Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesAUH / OMAA
International hub · 92 direct destinations · 2 runways · longest runway 13,471 ft
91 °F · ClearSource: METAR observation via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center
Alternative airports for this journey
Same journey, a different airport nearby - with an observed direct connection.
About the route from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi
The observed direct connection between İstanbul Airport (IST) and Zayed International Airport (AUH) covers approximately 1,889 mi. The estimated flight time is around 4h 20m. Etihad Airways has been observed on this connection in the available route data.
Frequently asked questions about this route
- How far is Istanbul from Abu Dhabi by air?
- The great-circle distance between İstanbul Airport and Zayed International Airport is approximately 1,889 mi.
- How long is the flight from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi?
- Based on the distance, the estimated flight time is about 4h 20m. This is an estimate, not a schedule.
- Is there a direct connection from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi?
- Yes, a direct connection between IST and AUH has been observed in our route data.
- Which airlines have been observed on this route?
- In the available route data: Etihad Airways.
- How often is there a flight from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi?
- On average around 1 flights a day, measured over twelve months (October 2025 to September 2026) in the flight archive, with 8 observed flights. Mainly Etihad Airways. That is an observation, not a timetable.
- What is the current time difference between Istanbul and Abu Dhabi?
- Abu Dhabi is currently 1 hour ahead of Istanbul.
Where this data comes from
The route data comes from the flight archive (ADS-B, adsb.lol): which connections actually flew over the last twelve full months and who flew them, combined with our own airport, runway, and airline datasets. It is reference data about observed routes - not a current timetable and no claim about bookability.
The frequency and aircraft on this page come from the flight archive (ADS-B, 12 months, October 2025 to September 2026), summarized per route per month. We do not see every flight, so it is a floor, not a count.
Route data updated on October 11, 2026.