Flying from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW): what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is 3 hours 20 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is 30 minutes behind Tehran.
Choose from 15 weekly Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport flights. The 02:20 departure with Turkish Airlines is the earliest flight you can take. Pegasus operates the latest service of the day at 06:25.
To ensure you get on your IKA to SAW flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.
Pegasus offers direct flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. Book with this popular airline, then get ready to discover the sights in Istanbul — and maybe even more of Türkiye (Turkey) if your schedule allows.
The majority of travellers choose to travel with Pegasus on this route.
Turkish Airlines ranks as the leading on-time carrier for IKA to SAW flights, with 81.48% of its services landing as scheduled.
If you'd like to add a stop to your trip, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. These are the top stopovers between IKA and SAW:
Esenboga International Airport
Heydar Aliyev International Airport
Hamad International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Currently, $120 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is $223. Keep in mind that fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book six months before flying. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from IKA to SAW.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Save time looking for cheap flights from IKA to SAW by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when fares go down.
Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.
Handy information about Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
When it comes to Imam Khomeini International Airport's on-time performance, 69.19% of flights arrive within the expected timeframe.
Imam Khomeini International Airport is about 56 kilometres from central Tehran. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 1 hour or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Have an early flight from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport? Stay at a hotel close to IKA, such as Remis Hotel. Rexan Hotel will also put you moments from the terminal.
Arriving at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
If you have a late Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport flight, nothing tops the convenience of being near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these accommodation options near SAW:
Follow your own route with a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and venture far and wide through Istanbul and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport about four weeks before your trip.
Getting from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) to central Istanbul
From Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul is approximately 48 kilometres away. It takes around 55 minutes to drive to the centre.
It takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to get there by public transport.
When to fly to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
August is the most popular month for flights from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. To escape the crowds, head to Istanbul in April.
Before locking in your flight from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, think about the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with the temperature ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for cheap tickets from IKA to SAW around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of Türkiye (Turkey) just waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will keep you on the move. Don't miss top attractions like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
Izmir is another must-experience destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No trip is complete without dropping by Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.
