Showing 6 Aegean Flights from Istanbul - Starting at Just ₹11,498

  About Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the popular cities in Turkey which has been split by the Bosphorus Strait to have parts of it in Europe as well as Asia. The old city is known for its rich Byzantine heritage, which can still be witnessed in a majority of the monuments and tourist attractions. Istanbul is the financial, economic, historical and cultural hub of Turkey and witnesses a great turnover of tourists every year, especially during peak seasons.

Aside from being one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul's population is quite high for a European city. The city is always crowded and can often get overwhelming with the excess crowd. There are various ways to reach the city, such as flights to Istanbul and cruises to the city's port from the Mediterranean Sea.

As a tourist hub, the city witnesses tourists flocking over from all directions. While their airport is busy with a plethora of flights flying in and out of Istanbul, even their sea routes see the same fervour. Ships and cruise voyages are a big hit among tourists who have the luxury of time and who also enjoy the luxe lifestyle. Many cities such as Barcelona, Nice, Athens, Sardinia, and more, have regular cruises heading to the port of Istanbul.

Some of the major highlights of the city are the Byzantium structures such as the Basilica Cistern, Chora Museum, to name a few. Accommodation prices fluctuate depending on the travel season.

Best time to visit Istanbul

Istanbul witnesses the best climate between March to May and September to November. As the city faces tremendous humidity to the point of annoyance, the summers and winters are also not ideal for travelling to Istanbul. However, Istanbul still receives an extensive crowd between June to August, summer. Even with the temperatures soaring high, many folks from the cold countries flock over to enjoy the hot sun and humid weather. It might be taxing to the ones already living in hot and humid atmospheres. The demand for Istanbul's summers is surprisingly high. The peak season comes with high-priced tags on hotel rooms in Istanbul. Even flights to Istanbul during the summer months are expensive. However, if you're planning a trip from India, which already enjoy its share of hot and humid weather, summer is definitely not the best time for you.

Months leading to winter and summer though, they are really pleasant and favourable for travelling and engaging in touristy activities. September to November bring the city's temperatures down as the roads are blessed with a cold breeze and quaint environment. Even the flight tickets to Istanbul drop, and there are cheap and affordable flight deals that you can acquire. These months usually witness rain showers, due to which, the tourism is put at a standstill. For a budget-traveller though, it is the best time to visit. The accommodation prices drop exceptionally in the city during this season, paving way for booking hotels in Istanbul for cheap. Another perk of this season is how various cultural festivals take place. Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul International Puppet Festival, Istanbul Theatre Festival, Contemporary Istanbul and Akbank Jazz Festival, are some of the festivals organised by the city to entertain the locals as well as the tourists. The March to May months are just as pleasant before summer takes over. Despite the humidity in the air, the spring and fall season caters to the tourism industry by keeping the heat and stickiness at a bare minimum.

Places to visit in Istanbul

Istanbul exquisite palaces and ornate religious structures have always been a fancy for history enthusiasts and tourists driven by cultural relevance. The city's major tourist attractions are centrally located, making traversing to the place convenient. However, thanks to the proximity, this has led to the city of Istanbul being excessively noisy, crowded and chaotic. That shouldn't stop you from exploring the streets of the city though You should visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Museum. These two attractions are known to be the most important ones in Istanbul and should not be missed. Istanbul's Faith district's another pearl is the Süleymaniye Mosque, which is known to be one of the perfect architectural structure in Ottoman-style. The Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul is a natural wonder on its own with the strategic waterways that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and simultaneously, dividing the city of Istanbul into two separate continents. This is easily one of the best sights and definitely worth checking out. You can even find fancy restaurants that overlook the strait.

The Basilica Cistern (also called Yerebatan Sarnici) is the largest Byzantine cistern that has managed to survive all through centuries. It is a beautiful site with an underground water reservoir, which is roughly calculated to be the size of two football fields. Another relic from the Byzantine period is the Chora Museum, which was originally a church from the old era. There are some modern structures too that add to Istanbul's charm with the Istanbul Modern museum being one of them. It is a private museum which collects and exhibits artwork that has contemporary significance.

Things to do in Istanbul

Located very close to the Blue Mosque is the Grand Bazaar, which is one of the oldest and massive shopping markets across the globe. With over 5,000 shops and 60 streets, the bazaar tends to overwhelm tourists with its colossal size. Not to mention how the place is constantly bustling with overzealous salesmen. The bazaar also has many quaint cafes and restaurants where you will find a lovely amalgam of cuisines ranging from the Mediterranean to Turkish to Middle Eastern. Many tourists have advocated that simply opting for a stroll around the city streets is the best kind of tourist activity one can indulge in when in Istanbul. Interacting with people and learning new stories about the place is definitely something people would enjoy. Plus, it would also be a good learning experience as you will have many more stories to return with from Istanbul.

Food and Restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul's dreamy scenic landscapes and cityscapes are not the only marvels that would steal your heart. The city's lovely melange of cuisines from Turkish to the Mediterranean is quite impressive and will go down well with you. The fusion food from the Middle East and Asia further add to the charm of the exquisite delicacies sold on the streets of Istanbul. You will particularly enjoy their kebabs and mezes (tapas-like plates), a popular dish known across Turkey as well as other Middle Eastern countries. The cuisine comprises meat, beans, vegetables and nuts, which combine to make quite the flavour that to get your attention. Another important ingredient for the Turkish is yogurt, which is used as a companion for a majority of their meals. The street food is just as marvellous with döner and simit, to name a few staple dishes. Besides, if the food expedition gets too heavy and makes you conk off, you can also down some impeccable Turkish coffee and feel rejuvenated.

To experience some of the high-end luxe restaurants in Istanbul, visit Ulus 29 which faces the famed Bosphorus, Râna Meyhane for some lip-smacking Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisine. You can take this food expedition further by visiting Banyan to savour some Asian delicacies and St. Regis Brasserie to indulge in some French food. These places are fancy and have some of the best views of the city's Bosphorus Strait. To resort to a more fun and noisy backdrop, head to some meyhanes, located in every nook and corner of the city. Babel Cafe and Restaurant would give you one of the best Turkish dishes.

How to reach Istanbul (Transportation)

Istanbul's international airport, also known as Ataturk International Airport, is the city as well as Turkey's busiest airport. As a city that attracts a lot of tourists, the international airport is well-connected with several major cities in the world. Flight connectivity to Istanbul from India is exceptional. There are direct flights that fly to Istanbul from major cities in the country, including, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Turkish Airlines, Oman Air, Aeroflot, Ukraine International Airlines are some of the major airlines that have services for direct flights to Istanbul from Indian cities. The distance from India to Turkey is quite decent and can be covered in about seven to ten hours. Depending on whether you choose a connecting flight or a flight with a layover, the duration to reach Istanbul from India would differ accordingly. Turkish Airlines offer direct flights without any layovers and connecting flight business from Mumbai, which takes only seven hours to reach. Direct flights come with a setback of burning a hole in your pocket.

As long as you don't mind paying extra money and spending less time on the flight, you can opt for direct flights. However, if you wish to snag cheap flight tickets to Istanbul, you will either have to pick the flights with longer durations or the ones with layovers. While booking your flight tickets, ensure to book your hotel room in Istanbul as well. You might receive some online flight deals for booking Istanbul flight and accommodation.

  About Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines S.A., which is the national flag carrier of Greece, is also the largest airline in the country with respect to the number of passengers carried, fleet size and the slew of destinations it serves. The airline operates scheduled as well as charter services from two of its Greek destinations, Athens and Thessaloniki, to all the major destinations spread across Europe and the Middle East. It operates from three main hubs at Athens International airport in Athens, Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus and Macedonia International Airport in Thessaloniki. Some of its focus cities include Chania International Airport, Rhodes International Airport, Heraklion International Airport and Kalamata International Airport. Aegean Airlines also operates from a few more Greek airports, but they are mainly on a seasonal basis. The airline has its headquarters at Kifisia, a suburb located in Athens. Aegean Airlines joined the Star Alliance in 2010.

In 2012, Aegean Airlines announced that it was acquiring Olympic Air, formed to be part of the Greek national carrier, previously known as Olympic Airways. The buyout was eventually approved by the European Commission the following year, and the airline came into existence as Aegean Airlines' new subsidiary. They are part of the same company while functioning as individual entities. Additionally, the airline also announced to be part of Cyprus Airways' last stage of privatisation tender. Cyprus Airways, the flag carrier of Cyprus was privatised, but soon, the airline followed for bankruptcy. Following this, Aegean Airlines intervened and established a hub at Larnaca International Airport, the official international gateway of Cyprus. With this, Aegean Airlines expanded its operations and initiated scheduled flights to and from the island country to a slew of international destinations. The airline was founded in 1987 and commenced operations as a VIP/business air operation which only catered to a handful of important people. It also worked as an air ambulance service. However, from 1992, Aegean Airlines received the license to be an independent air operator by the Greek country. This was followed by the airline's move to expand its fleet and acquire more jet flights to travel the world. While it was founded as Aegean Aviation, the airline rebranded itself as Aegean Airlines, which was adopted as the airline started scheduled passenger services in 1999. The airline's first commercial flights flew from Athens to Thessaloniki, Heraklion and Crete.

The airline has acquired many airlines and private aircraft ventures since its inception. They acquired Air Greece in 1999 and by 2001, also merged with Cronus Airlines, while they functioned as one airline. In 2005, Aegean Airlines also partnered with Lufthansa to offer its loyal customers with new mileage plans such as its Miles and More programme. By 2006, the airline further entered a deal with TAP Air Portugal and eventually also announced a cooperation deal with Brussels Airlines. However, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air stated their intention to merge and form one operator to work under the Star Alliance network. However, in 2011, the European Commission stated that they would be blocking the deal between the two airlines, citing anti-competition issues. The commissions basically believed that there would be a quasi-monopoly in Greece's transport market, following the merger with Olympic Air.

Further on this, the commission added that the merger would also result in Aegean Airlines hiking up their flight ticket prices to cater to the Greek and European passengers who are flying from Athens. There would not be any airline strong enough to match the sufficient size of fleet and operations that Aegean Airlines can accommodate. Eventually, the airline came up with a solution that enabled the merger to take place.

Theodoros Vassilakis is the current owner of Aegean Airlines as with a whopping stake of 34.17 per cent. Meanwhile, other partners who have a considerable share in the airline include Ainesco Enterprises Company Limited and Siana Enterprise Company Limited which hold 9.48 per cent respectively along with Konstantakopoulos Achilleas which has 6.39 per cent stakes in Aegean Airlines.

Fleet size of Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines currently owns and operates an all-Airbus fleet with 51 aircraft in total. The aircraft in service includes one Airbus A319-100, 35 Airbus A320-200s, five Airbus A3320neo and Airbus A321neo and ten Airbus A321-200s. Additionally, the airline also operates a Learjet 60, which is predominantly used for VIP and business purposes. It's mainly for executive travel and flies in a non-scheduled flight basis. With respect to fleet expansion, Aegean Airlines followed two strategies, one to eliminate all turboprop aircraft from its fleet and second, to place larger orders for Airbus A320 and A321 as a means to transform its fleet to an all-Airbus one. They managed to achieve the same as, by 2004, the airline got rid of all its turboprop planes. Similarly, the airline also transformed its fleet to acquire and sustain the only aircraft. In 2010, the airline became the first one to commit to upgrade its aircraft from Airbus family and install FANS-B+ datalink system that the aircraft manufacturing company introduced. Further, they enhanced the cabin classes of their aircraft by installing better-reclining seats across all its fleet. Aegean Airlines does plan to expand its fleet to accommodate 70 aircraft instead of its current standing of 51 aircraft.

Baggage Allowance

Aegean Airlines has enabled baggage allowance keeping the global standards and the fleet's strength in mind. Depending on the cabin class and the ticket type of the passenger, the baggage allowance policy is altered. Currently, the airline allows one piece of baggage which can weigh up to 23 kg for passengers travelling from the economy flex class. Economy GoLight cabin has no checked baggage allowance from the airlines as it majorly caters to short-haul flights and is mostly used in the domestic routes. Passengers of the business class are allowed to carry two pieces of baggage that can weigh up to 32 kg each. It is essential for the passenger to not carry a weight that exceeds the stated bracket. The baggage dimension for all the bags should be 158 cm and not more. Special reservations are made for passengers who are part of Aegean Airlines' Miles+Bonus Gold and Star Gold Alliance. Rules for cabin baggage include one hand baggage that should weigh no more than 8 kg with a dimension of 56 cm X 45 cm X 25 cm. Meanwhile, the business class passengers can carry one piece of baggage that cannot exceed 13 kg with the same dimension as mentioned for economy class.

In-flight services

Aegean Airlines' in-flight services are worth all the money spent on the ticket. With its Airbus-fleet that has the best of aircraft models, the interiors are made to bring forth comfort and convenience for the passengers. The seats are much better with recline options and more legroom. Other in-flight services also include in-flight entertainment systems for international or long-haul flights along with delicious in-flight meals. The flight attendants are also quite friendly and accommodating.

Popular routes and top cities of Aegean Airlines

Aegean Airlines, as of 2019, caters to about 94 destinations in its domestic routes and international routes. The airline majorly only flies to European countries and a handful of Middle East. As one of the top European airlines, the connectivity of Aegean Airlines is immaculate with a slew of tourist destinations. Cyprus and Greece remain its biggest market while other destinations include the top financial places on the continent. The airline has terminated a handful of cities in Russia and Ukraine. They also have seasonal flights that cater to many places during their peak season. Some of the important cities for Aegean Airlines are Yerevan, Vienna, Brussels Airport, Sofia, Zagreb, Larnaca, Prague, Copenhagen, Cairo, Tallinn, Paris, Nice, Strasbourg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Mykonos, Santorini, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Dublin, Tel Aviv, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Venice, Amman, Beirut, Marrakesh, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Lisbon, Moscow, Warsaw, Lisbon, Bucharest, Jeddah, Ibiza, Madrid, Stockholm, Geneva, Zurich, Istanbul, Birmingham, London and Manchester.

Why travel by Aegean Airlines?

Aegean Airlines has sustained a reputation in the airlines industry as one of the best carriers for tourists who wish to explore more of Greece and other European countries. Unlike some of the big players in the market, Aegean Airlines further connects to East Europe destinations. While their domestic route and international route connectivity are worth mentioning, the other services provided by the airline is what makes it stay ahead of the game.

With Aegean Airlines, passengers can do web check-ins to avoid the long airport queues. In fact, there are provisions to purchase extra baggage on the website. Further details regarding baggage allowance can be understood on the official website of Aegean Airlines. The airline's website is up to date with all necessary information ranging from flight status of the passenger to Aegean Airlines' flight schedules. In fact, passengers can also make airport shuttle bookings on the website. Additional perks are reserved for passengers who are members of the Star Alliance frequent flyers programme. The airline does cater to the needs of the passengers and ensures to offer the best airport and in-flight services.

  About Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is one of the biggest airports in Turkey and serves as an international airport. The airport is situated on the Arnavutköy district, which falls on the European side of the city. Istanbul Airport is reserved for passenger use and should not be confused with Istanbul Atatürk Airport. The airport previously served for commercial flight services. However, the passenger flights were shifted to Istanbul Airport. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is closed for passenger flights, and only Istanbul Airport serves to allow operations of commercial flights.

Istanbul Airport is currently working on expansion plans. Some of the phases of infrastructural development and upgradations are yet to be completed. In fact, the airport authorities have segregated the expansion plans into various stages to enable consistent work. The eventual aim is to accommodate a whopping number of 200 million passengers in a year.

Istanbul Airport has four runways with one terminal that caters to both domestic and international flight movement. While there is only one terminal, the airport as been divided into five concourses and lettered alphabetically, A, B, C, D, F and G. Further with respect to the airport security, they have about 3,500 security personnel. These include 1,850 police, 750 immigration officers, providing airport security.

About Airport Terminals

Currently, the Istanbul Airport has one functioning terminal which services domestic and international flight activities. There are four runways that are operational and made of asphalt. The terminal does have a total of five concourses lettered A, B, D, F and G along with 143 total boarding bridges for passengers alphabetically. Since the one terminal takes care of both, domestic and international flights, the concourses divide the passengers flying from within Turkey and internationally. The Istanbul Airport has 3,500 security personnel dedicated to keeping the vicinity safe. Not to mention how a total of 1,850 police along with 750 immigration officers who are expected to join the airport security. The Istanbul Airport does have extensive plans to expand the terminals from the functional ones. The main terminal is known to have the capacity of passenger 90 million annually. It poses a tough competition with Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, which also boasts a large floor area. Istanbul Airport's runways are quite large, with one of them being 4,100 metres long.

About Airport Authority

Istanbul Airport is owned by General Directorate of State Airports Authority. However, it is being operated by Istanbul Grand Airport. The General Directorate of State Airports Authority is primarily a Turkish government body that takes care of the smooth functioning of a majority of airports in Turkey. They are also responsible for the regulation and overseeing the air traffic in the airspace that falls under the Turkish territory. Although the authority takes care of operations of many airports, the exceptions include Istanbul Airport, Milas-Bodrum Airport, Antalya Airport and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. The operations of Istanbul Airport are undertaken by Istanbul Grand Airport. They have been working extensively on enabling the airport to be one of the best in the world.

Much recently, the authority came up with a project called Istanbul Airport City, which is set to bring about an intriguing urban development design. The airport city's design has since been enhanced with provisions for world-class amenities to support the Istanbul Airport's functions. The Airport City's unique concept has been undertaken by Perkin+Will, a renowned international design company. Istanbul Airport City model's location is parallel to the Istanbul Airport. The best part about the project's design is how it resembles the city of Istanbul. IGA aims to make the Istanbul Airport City as the cultural and economic hub for Turkey. The Istanbul Airport City will have four main zones which would be directly connected to the core zone of Terminal 1. The Istanbul Airport City is also slated to have an aviation academy and university, retail, hotels, hospital facility and more. IGA is also planning on bringing sustainable practices to enable a positive approach to environmental management.

Top airlines flying from Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is gifted with great airlines connection. There are many flights that fly to and from the Istanbul Airport and have dedicated park bays too. In fact, the airport also sees Indian airlines, IndiGo. It is the only Indian airline that is available at the Istanbul Airport. In fact, the airline has devoted direct flight to IndiGo. Along with the Indian airline though, the Istanbul Airport further sees a lot of international connections too. With Turkish Airlines taking the majority of air traffic, the airport does witness flights of airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Albania, Air Astana, Air France, Air Moldova, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Jazeera Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Libyan Airlines, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, Tunisair, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. The Istanbul Airport does lack cargo operations as a majority of the operations are being taken up by Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

Facilities at the Istanbul Airport

ATM and foreign exchange - ATM kiosks and forex counters are available at regular intervals at the airport. In fact, you can find the forex counters at the arrivals section of all terminals. It would be best to go through the airport's website if you need to know the exact location of the forex counters. The information desk would also perfect place for you to visit.

Baggage - The airport offers a slew of baggage-related facilities such as baggage delivery, baggage wrapping, porter services and more. These services are perfect as they would help you with all your luggage woes.

Prayer rooms - Dedicated multi-faith rooms have been installed at the airport. They can be availed by visitors, and there are 44 rooms in total. Half of them serve men, and the other half serve women. You must know the ones that you can enter.

Restaurants and cafes - Food courts, establishments and upscale restaurants are also present at the airport terminals. You can find them at the departures and arrivals spaces. In fact, many of the lounges in the airport also cater to an exquisite culinary experience.

Lounges - The Istanbul Airport accommodates a slew of airline lounges, including VIP rooms and business conference halls. These make it convenient for the passengers who are travelling with first-class and business-class tickets. The lounge also has spas and upscale restaurants to make it a good experience for travellers.

Medical services - Medical services such as emergency teams and pharmacies are also available at the airport. You can visit the information desk to find out more about their paramedic services. Pharmacies are also present at the departures and arrivals sections of the terminals. This is to ensure that an emergency situation is catered to immediately.

Nursing rooms - For new mothers with infants, dedicated nursing rooms have also been installed. The rooms are perfectly hygienic and sanitized to ensure that the mothers feel safe about the environment. The area also has baby products and essentials such as baby powders and diapers.

Special assistance - Special assistance and porter services are also offered at the airport. In fact, you can inform your airlines about the services you require which need special assistance and the airport would provide you with the same.

Smoking zone - To keep the air of the airport fresh, they have restricted smoking in public. There are dedicated smoking rooms in the airport lounge that you can visit. In case you do not have any on you. Provisions to purchase the same is also available.

How to reach Istanbul Airport

Public Transport

Much recently, the Istanbul Airport worked on bringing forth a dedicated public transportation link that would be connected to the city. There are many scheduled rides that would reach you to the Istanbul Airport as well as the city. There are taxis and other public transportations that are available at the airport. Not to mention how you can find them from anywhere in the main city too. You can find bus routes to take to reach the Istanbul Airport on their website.

Rentals and taxis

You can find taxis and rental cars that would reach you to Istanbul Airport. It might be nice to take up cars and taxis for a relaxed departure. It is essential for you to plan your route in advance to make sure that you reach the Istanbul Airport on time. Maps would guide you perfectly to the airport. It is essential that you keep a check on the traffic that the Istanbul city possesses. Since Istanbul is known to be extremely crowded and busy at all times, it would be best to plan a route in advance to reach the Istanbul Airport without any delay in the schedule. The airport does offer 24/7 taxi service that can be found at several counters. You can book a ride from the departures as well as the arrivals.