IST to LHR: Distance and Flight Time
The distance from İstanbul Airport (IST) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is 2,487 km (1,546 mi). A typical nonstop flight covers it in about 3h 35m, heading northwest. The distance is the same in either direction (LHR to IST).
How far is it from Istanbul to London?
The great-circle distance between İstanbul Airport (IST) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is 2,487 km (1,546 mi, 1,343 nautical miles). That is the straight-line distance; a real flight is a little longer because of air-traffic routing.
How long is the flight from IST to LHR?
A nonstop flight typically takes about 3h 35m. This is an estimate from the distance; actual block times depend on the aircraft, winds and the exact routing. LHR is roughly northwest of IST.
How is the IST to LHR route written in code?
The pair is written IST-LHR in IATA codes and LTFM-EGLL in ICAO codes, the form used on a flight plan. İstanbul Airport is IST (LTFM), London Heathrow Airport is LHR (EGLL).
| IST | LHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | İstanbul Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| ICAO code | LTFM | EGLL |
| Country | Turkey | United Kingdom |
| Elevation | 325 ft | 83 ft |
| Rank by connections | #18 | #4 |
LTFM starts with L, the ICAO prefix for southern Europe; EGLL starts with E, the prefix for northern Europe. How ICAO prefixes are laid out.
LHR sits 242 ft (74 m) lower than IST, which is a real difference in air density on takeoff.
Airlines flying IST to LHR
2 airlines appear on this route in the open route dataset, 2 of them still listed as active. Each row gives the IATA code, the ICAO code and the radio callsign, which is what an air traffic controller hears:
| IATA | Airline | ICAO | Callsign | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | British Airways | BAW | Speedbird | Active |
| TK | Turkish Airlines | THY | Turkair | Active |
A further 1 carrier sell this pair as a codeshare without operating it: AA.
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Istanbul from London?
İstanbul Airport (IST) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) are 2,487 km (1,546 mi, 1,343 nautical miles) apart in a straight line.
How long is the flight from IST to LHR?
A typical nonstop flight between IST and LHR takes about 3h 35m. Actual times vary with aircraft type, winds and routing.
What direction is LHR from IST?
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) lies roughly northwest of İstanbul Airport (IST).
Which airlines fly IST to LHR?
2 airlines appear on the IST-LHR route in the open dataset, including British Airways, Turkish Airlines.
Related routes
Other routes from Istanbul (IST):
Other routes from London (LHR):
IST airport code · LHR airport code · Busiest airports worldwide