Flight time: Karachi to Istanbul
Jinnah International Airport (KHI) → Istanbul Airport (IST) · medium haul · europe asia westbound
The flight from Karachi (KHI) to Istanbul (IST) takes approximately 5h 10m to 5h 55m gate-to-gate, covering 3,971 km (2,467 mi). This medium-haul europe asia westbound route uses a cruise speed of 780–850 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Karachi (KHI) → Istanbul (IST)
- Distance:
- 3,971 km (2,467 mi)
- Flight time:
- 5h 10m to 5h 55m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- medium-haul, europe asia westbound
- Cruise speed:
- 780–850 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Jinnah International Airport, Pakistan (Asia/Karachi)
- Destination:
- Istanbul Airport, Turkey (Europe/Istanbul)
Route details
| Origin | Karachi, Pakistan (KHI) |
| Destination | Istanbul, Turkey (IST) |
| Distance | 3,971 km (2,467 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 5h 10m |
| Flight time (high) | 5h 55m |
| Route type | medium-haul, europe asia westbound |
| Cruise speed | 780–850 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | -2h (westbound) |
Distance breakdown: Karachi to Istanbul
The 3,971-km great-circle distance between Karachi (24.91°N, 67.16°E) and Istanbul (41.28°N, 28.75°E) spans 16.4° of latitude and 38.4° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 2,467 mi or 2144 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
At 3,971 km, this medium-haul route falls in the operational sweet spot where aircraft reach cruise altitude for a meaningful portion of the flight. Effective cruise speeds of 780–850 km/h are typical, with narrow-body aircraft (A320neo, 737 MAX) handling the lower end and wide-body aircraft achieving speeds at the upper end. The 5h 10m to 5h 55m estimate accounts for approximately 20 minutes of combined climb and descent, with the remainder at efficient cruise altitude.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at KHI, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at IST, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at KHI are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At IST, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Karachi and Istanbul may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Istanbul → Karachi
The return flight from Istanbul to Karachi is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
Flight times between Karachi and Istanbul vary modestly by season — typically 10–20 minutes. Upper-level wind patterns shift with the seasons: winter generally brings stronger westerly winds at these latitudes, while summer patterns are more variable. Thunderstorm activity along the route corridor peaks in summer months, occasionally causing routing diversions that add distance. Winter operations may include de-icing delays at KHI and IST, which extend the overall gate-to-gate time.
Airport information
Jinnah International Airport (KHI) serves Karachi, Pakistan as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. Istanbul Airport (IST) is a major international hub in Istanbul, Turkey. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.