Showing 4 Etihad Airways Flights from Istanbul - Starting at Just ₹12,277

  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 Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is the flag carrier as well as the second-largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, after Emirates. The airlines' head office is located in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, in proximity to Abu Dhabi's International Airport. Operations of Etihad commenced in 2003. The airline has since expanded its wings to acquire many world-class facilities and aircraft in its fleet. With a fleet strength of 120 which only includes Boeing and Airbus aircraft, the airline has a record of flying about 1,000 flights in a week to more than 120 domestic and international routes sprawled across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and North America. The airline operates passenger as well as cargo-based services to many international destinations. According to records, in 2015, Etihad carried about 14.8 million passengers, a whopping 22.3 per cent jump from the previous year, adding to the revenue of the airlines to stand at USD 9.02 billion and a net profit of USD 103 million. The airline's main hub is in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Additionally, Etihad Airways also operates two subsidiaries, Etihad Holidays and Etihad Cargo. The same year, the airlines also introduced an airline alliance called Etihad Airways Partners. However, it was disbanded in 2018 following several of its members falling in financial peril. Etihad was previously led by former Gulf Air CEO James Hogan. He was appointed as the President and Chief Executive Officer in 2006 and served the office till 2018. Currently, the airline has appointed Tony Douglas as the CEO of Etihad Group, to fill in the shoes of James Hogan. Aside from running its show, Etihad also has equity alliance and minority shareholdings in airlines such as Air Serbia, Air Seychelles Virgin Australia with 49 per cent. Forty per cent and 24.2 per cent stakes respectively.

Over the years, the airline has sponsored a slew of big events including the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Docklands Stadium and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. On its genesis, Etihad's livery featured the flag of the United Arab Emirates along with its emblem on the vertical stabiliser while the windows had a golden Etihad logo. The fuselage also featured red and golden stripes. However, the livery was phased out as a new design was introduced in 2014. The new livery first featured on Etihad's first Airbus A380s. The new design includes triangular tessellation painted with gold and silver on the vertical stabiliser as well as the rear fuselage. The aircraft also has a golden Etihad logo along with the emblem of the United Arab Emirates painted over the windows as well as the flag painted on the front door. The golden hue is inspired by the romanticising of the Arabian desert.

Fleet size of Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways operates a fleet comprising of only Airbus and Boeing. The total size of the fleet is 102 with Boeing 787-9 taking the most space with 30 aircraft. Following the same is Airbus A320-200 and Boeing 777-300ER with 19 aircraft. Ever since the airline's genesis, it has been accommodating only the top aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. You can find both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft and the cabin facilities change accordingly. Etihad Airways' fleet is recognised worldwide for its innovative and advanced facilities.

Etihad Airways Baggage Allowance

Etihad Airways is quite strict when it comes to their baggage allowance. The airline has a standard weight and size for baggage that the passengers need to adhere to. Depending on the country that you will be travelling to, Etihad Airways has dedicated baggage allowance. You will need to go to their website and find out the same. In the baggage allowance page, the airline has reserved two blank posts where you can add the destination and the city you'll be taking your flight from. Following the search, you will know how much the baggage allowance is on Etihad Airways. The same applies to the hand luggage and passengers travelling with kids and infants.

With respect to carrying a personal item on board, the weight of the handbag with personal items should not exceed 5 kg. The personal bag could include a laptop, a backpack, handbag or a briefcase to carry onboard. It is essential that you follow the necessary protocols and not carry unwanted items in the bag. There are provisions to purchase extra baggage. In fact, the airline allows extra baggage with 30 per cent off. You will not have to pay a whopping sum of amount. The airline allows the passenger to check the status of the bag on their official website. However, it is while you have some benefits, the airline expects passengers not to carry specific things onboard or in the checked baggage. A list of prohibited items has been shared by Etihad Airways which follow protocols of all the other airlines it has partnered with. Some of the restricted items include sharp items, inflatables, wheelchairs, weapons, dangerous goods and chemicals, liquid, aerosols and gels, and more. While wheelchairs are not allowed, there are special provisions made by the airline for passengers who have mobility issues and need the wheelchair. The same applies to travellers with infants. For infants, the airline has allowed the traveller to carry enough baggage that is dedicated to baby products.

Etihad Airways In-flight services

Etihad Airways' in-flight services are world-class. The airline recently introduced Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 with several amazing features. These include a residence suite such as The Residence (A380), First Apartments (A380), First Suite (787), Business Studio and Economy Smart seat. You will find a business studio, and smart economy seat available in all the aircraft of Etihad Airways fleet. However, the state-of-the-art first-class suites and cabins are only available in their Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.

The Residence - Airbus A380 is the only aircraft in the Etihad fleet to accommodate The Residence. There is room for two people to fit in residence and features a private living space with a living room, bathroom and a bedroom. The cabin also offers a 60.6-inch wide reclining two-seater sofa with a 32-inch TV monitor. An ensuite bathroom along with a shower is also available in the suite and has an 82-inch wide doubled bed. The bedroom also comes with another TV monitor which is 27-inch along with a personal butler. The first-class' services also come with complimentary meals and alcoholic beverages.

First-class - The airline also has a First Apartments, which follows the same layout but with limited provisions from the residence. The Airbus aircraft accommodates the first-class apartment with nine total cabins and a configuration of 1-1 across a single aisle. The room features a decent 30.3-inch wide reclining chair along with an ottoman that can be converted into a bed. The airline also has a 24-inch TV monitor which can swing for a better view from the ottoman. The recliner is also accompanied by a vanity cabinet, a bar with chilled drinks and luxurious hospitality from the airline's crew. The Boeing 787-9 allows eight first suites in the aircraft which includes a 26-inch reclining lounge chair. There is a dining table along with a 24-inch TV monitor. The aircraft also comes with a personal wardrobe and high sliding doors.

Business-class - The business studio has been introduced by Etihad Airways in both the aircraft models, Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9s as well as Boeing 787-10s. The studio accommodates 22a 22-inch wide reclining chair that can be converted into a flatbed. It also comes with an 18-inch TV monitor and has a configuration of 1-2-1 seating. Everybody gets direct aisle access.

Economy smart seat - While the fabulous features are available and part of Etihad Airways' in-flight services, the economy class is also quite decent. The seats are 17-inch wide on the Boeing 787 and 19-inch wide on the Airbus A380. The seat pitch is 31-33-inch and 6-inch recline, respectively. The airline also has an 11-inch touch screen entertainment system by Etihad to cater to the in-flight entertainment of the passenger. The airline follows a 3-4-3 seating style.

Popular routes and top cities for Etihad Airways

The United Arab Emirates established Etihad Airways as the national carrier and has since managed to launch a plethora of domestic routes and international routes for their flights. Over the years, they have managed to serve about 74 destinations along with dedicated five cargo cities. Much recently, they even commenced their operations to Beirut. Some of the top cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Manama, Brussels, Toronto, Beijing, Shanghai, Cairo, Munich, Athens, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Kochi, Milan, Dublin, Tokyo, Amman, Kuwait City, Rabat, Lagos, Muscat, Lahore, Manila, Jeddah, Medina, Singapore, Seoul, Barcelona, Colombo, Geneva, Zurich, Bangkok, Phuket, London, Chicago, New York City, Washington DC and Los Angeles.

Why travel by Etihad Airways?

Etihad Airways' world-class in-flight services, as well as hospitality and lounge treatment, is a testament to the host country's lifestyle. It is luxurious and has some of the finest facilities. Their official website includes web check-in services, booking Etihad Airways' flights and to be updated with the flight schedules and flight status of the airlines.

  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.