Best Airlines to Turkey Compared
Turkey is one of the most competitively served routes from both the UK and Pakistan, with full-service flag carriers, budget specialists and charter airlines all competing for passengers. Here's how the main options compare.
Turkish Airlines
Best overall network- Widest choice of UK and Pakistan departure cities
- Generous checked baggage allowance included
- Strong onward domestic connections within Turkey
- Higher fares than budget carriers
Pegasus Airlines
Best value, wide network- Turkey's largest low-cost carrier
- Frequent flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Antalya, Izmir
- Base fare covers cabin bag only
- Useful for connecting onward within Turkey
Wizz Air
Often the cheapest fares- Regularly the lowest headline UK-Turkey fares
- Strong Luton and Gatwick departures
- Low-cost model — extras add up quickly
- Good for Dalaman and Sabiha Gokcen routes
easyJet
Budget, strong UK coverage- Departs from multiple UK regional airports
- Competitive on Istanbul and resort routes
- Reliable schedules, easy add-on baggage
British Airways
Full-service, Heathrow/Gatwick- Reliable full-service option to Istanbul
- Included baggage and seat selection
- Best for travellers prioritising comfort over price
SunExpress
Best for coastal resorts- Turkish Airlines / Lufthansa joint venture
- Focused on Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Izmir
- Good option for beach-holiday travellers over Istanbul-only carriers
Jet2 & TUI
Best for package holidays- Strong value on flight-plus-hotel packages
- Good included baggage on package fares
- Wide regional UK airport coverage
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Main direct option from Pakistan- Direct routes from Islamabad and Lahore to Istanbul
- Generally the most affordable direct Pakistan-Turkey option
- Also used for Hajj and Umrah-adjacent routings
Ready to compare live fares across all of these? Head to our Turkey flights page to see current pricing by airline and route.
Cheapest Airlines to Turkey
If your priority is simply the lowest fare, budget carriers consistently undercut the full-service airlines on headline price, though it's worth checking total cost once baggage and seat selection are added.
| Airline | Typical Route | From (Return, Indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Wizz Air | London – Dalaman / Sabiha Gokcen | From ~£21-£30 |
| Pegasus Airlines | London – Sabiha Gokcen / Antalya | From ~£16-£40 |
| SunExpress | UK – Antalya / Izmir | From ~£41+ |
| Ryanair / easyJet | UK – Istanbul / resort airports | From ~£22-£50 |
| Turkish Airlines | UK / Pakistan – Istanbul | From ~£110+ |
| PIA | Pakistan – Istanbul | From ~PKR 55,000+ (one-way, pre-booked) |
*Indicative fares based on current low-season pricing and subject to constant change by date, route and availability. As with any budget carrier, the initial fare typically covers a small cabin bag only — factor in checked baggage before assuming the lowest headline fare is automatically the cheapest total cost.
Our rule of thumb: compare the all-in price (fare + bags + seat) on budget carriers against Turkish Airlines' inclusive fare before booking — the gap is often smaller than the headline price suggests. See live comparisons on our Turkey flights page.
Flights to Turkey from the UK
The UK-Turkey route is one of the busiest and most competitive in Europe, with direct flights available from most major UK airports.
From London
Widest choiceHeathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton between them serve Istanbul, Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum on Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Pegasus, Wizz Air and easyJet, with around 4-hour flight times to Istanbul.
From Manchester
Strong year-round linksRegular year-round Istanbul routes plus seasonal direct flights to Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum, with a flight time of around 4 hours 20 minutes to Istanbul.
From Birmingham
Convenient Midlands optionDirect seasonal Antalya services and year-round Istanbul connections, useful for Midlands travellers avoiding a trip to London or Manchester.
Regional UK airports
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol +Expanding seasonal services to Antalya and Dalaman alongside established Istanbul connections — worth comparing against a London or Manchester departure.
See live pricing for every UK departure airport and Turkish destination on our Turkey flights hub, or jump straight to a city page: flights to Istanbul, flights to Antalya, flights to Bodrum, or flights to Izmir.
Flights to Turkey from Pakistan
Turkey is a hugely popular destination for Pakistani travellers, both for tourism and as a connecting hub, with direct routes available from all three major Pakistani cities.
| Route | Main Airlines | Approx. Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad – Istanbul | PIA, Turkish Airlines | ~5.5-6 hours (direct) |
| Lahore – Istanbul | PIA, Turkish Airlines | ~6-6.5 hours (direct) |
| Karachi – Istanbul | PIA, Turkish Airlines | ~6-7 hours (direct) |
PIA and Turkish Airlines operate the main direct services between Pakistan and Istanbul, with PIA generally offering the more budget-friendly direct fares. Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways also serve the route with a stopover, and can sometimes undercut direct fares — worth comparing both options, especially if your travel dates are flexible.
Booking tip: based on typical booking patterns, midweek departures (Tuesday and Wednesday) tend to offer the cheapest Pakistan-Turkey fares, while booking around 4-6 weeks ahead generally beats last-minute pricing. Compare live options on our Turkey flights page.
Domestic Flights Within Turkey
If you're flying into Istanbul but heading to a coastal resort, or combining a city break with a beach stay, a short domestic flight is often faster and cheaper than a long coach transfer.
Istanbul – Antalya
Turkey's busiest domestic routeFrequent daily flights on Turkish Airlies, Pegasus and AJet, taking around 1 hour 30 minutes — a fast way to combine Istanbul sightseeing with an Antalya beach stay.
Istanbul – Bodrum
Popular summer routeRegular seasonal flights, especially in summer, taking roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on Pegasus, Turkish Airlines and AJet.
Istanbul – Izmir
Gateway to the AegeanMultiple daily flights of around 1 hour 15 minutes, useful for reaching Kusadasi, Ephesus and the wider Aegean coast.
Compare fares to each of these cities on our dedicated pages: Antalya flights, Bodrum flights, and Izmir flights.
Cheapest Month to Fly to Turkey
Prices to Turkey follow a predictable seasonal pattern tied to UK and European school holidays and Turkish coastal weather.
October is currently regarded as the single cheapest month to fly to Turkey, with May, June and early November close behind — all sitting outside the July-August demand peak while still offering warm, swimmable weather along the coast. December to February brings lower resort-flight demand too, though this suits an Istanbul city break more than a beach holiday, since most coastal resorts scale back for winter.
When to Book Turkey Flights
Booking early matters most for July and August travel and for the last two weeks before UK school holidays, when both budget and full-service fares rise sharply. Outside peak season, prices are more stable, so it's worth tracking fares on our Turkey flights page rather than rushing to book the first fare you see.
Baggage Allowance Compared
| Airline | Cabin Bag | Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | Included | Usually included (varies by fare class) |
| British Airways | Included | Usually included (varies by fare class) |
| Pegasus Airlines | Small cabin bag only | Extra charge |
| Wizz Air / easyJet | Small cabin bag only | Extra charge |
| PIA | Included | Usually included on international fares |
*Baggage policies change frequently and vary by fare type — always confirm current allowances directly with the airline before travelling.
Which Airport for Which Resort?
Picking the right airport matters as much as picking the right airline — flying into the wrong one can turn a cheap fare into a very long transfer.
| Resort / Region | Correct Airport |
|---|---|
| Istanbul city break | Istanbul (IST/SAW) |
| Antalya, Side, Belek, Kemer, Alanya | Antalya (AYT) |
| Fethiye, Oludeniz, Marmaris, Dalyan | Dalaman (DLM) |
| Bodrum, Gumbet, Bitez | Milas-Bodrum (BJV) |
| Kusadasi, Ephesus | Izmir (ADB) |
See detailed route and pricing pages for each city: Istanbul · Antalya · Bodrum · Izmir.
Turkey Vacation: Where to Go
Once your flight is sorted, the next question is usually "where should I actually go on my Turkey vacation?" Here's a quick steer based on what most travellers are looking for.
Istanbul
History, food and culture year-round — the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Bosphorus cruises make it Turkey's top vacation city break.
Antalya
Turkey's biggest all-inclusive resort region — the best choice for a beach-focused family vacation with the widest hotel choice.
Bodrum
Upmarket Aegean beach clubs, marinas and boutique hotels — Turkey's favourite vacation spot for couples.
Fethiye & the Turquoise Coast
The Blue Lagoon, paragliding over Oludeniz, and a quieter, more scenic vacation pace than the bigger resorts.
Planning a full Turkey vacation itinerary rather than just the flight? See our Turkey flights hub to start comparing routes to your chosen destination.
Cheap Flight Booking Tips
Compare both airports
Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) often price very differently for the same dates — check both before booking.
Price the total, not the headline fare
Add checked baggage and seat selection to budget-carrier fares before comparing against Turkish Airlines or British Airways.
Consider a domestic connection
Sometimes flying into Istanbul and taking a cheap domestic flight beats a direct resort flight — worth comparing both routings.