September’s published schedules list five airlines flying direct from Dubai to Istanbul — Emirates, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet.
These serve Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Emirates lists 21 weekly Dubai–Istanbul flights. The table gives selected published schedules: Emirates’ current route-page listings and other carriers’ entries applicable during 7–13 September 2026. Times are local; these are not a complete frequency count or confirmation of seats or actual departures.
Airlines Operating Dubai–Istanbul Right Now
| Airline | Flight | Schedule | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | EK123 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 10:40, arr 14:25 | Airbus A380 |
| Emirates | EK121 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 14:30, arr 18:05 | Boeing 777-300ER |
| Emirates | EK117 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 18:00, arr 21:35 | Airbus A350-900 |
| Emirates | EK124 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 16:25, arr 21:50 | Airbus A380 |
| Emirates | EK122 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 19:45, arr 01:10 (+1) | Boeing 777-300ER |
| Emirates | EK118 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 23:30, arr 05:25 (+1) | Airbus A350-900 |
| flydubai | FZ727 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 13:45, arr 17:25 | Boeing 737-800 |
| flydubai | FZ755 (DXB → IST) | Mon, Sat — dep 21:30, arr 01:10 (+1) | Boeing 737-800 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK761 (DXB → IST) | Thu — dep 02:00, arr 05:45 | Airbus A350-900 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK763 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 07:30, arr 11:20 | Airbus A321neo / Airbus A330-300 |
| flydubai | FZ751 (DXB → SAW) | Daily — dep 09:15, arr 13:05 | Boeing 737-800 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK765 (DXB → IST) | Daily — dep 13:50, arr 17:40 | Airbus A321neo |
| AJet | VF144 (DXB → SAW) | Daily — dep 03:05, arr 07:15 | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Pegasus Airlines | PC741 (DXB → SAW) | Daily — dep 04:25, arr 08:40 | Airbus A321 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK762 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 00:30, arr 05:55 | Airbus A321neo / Airbus A330-300 |
| flydubai | FZ752 (SAW → DXB) | Daily — dep 14:05, arr 19:35 | Boeing 737-800 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK760 (IST → DXB) | Wed — dep 18:50, arr 00:20 (+1) | Airbus A350-900 |
| Turkish Airlines | TK758 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 21:00, arr 02:30 (+1) | Airbus A321neo |
| Turkish Airlines | TK764 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 06:45, arr 12:20 | Airbus A321neo |
| Pegasus Airlines | PC740 (SAW → DXB) | Daily — dep 21:10, arr 03:15 (+1) | Airbus A321 |
| flydubai | FZ728 (IST → DXB) | Daily — dep 18:35, arr 00:45 (+1) | Boeing 737-800 |
| AJet | VF143 (SAW → DXB) | Daily — dep 19:45, arr 01:55 (+1) | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| flydubai | FZ756 (IST → DXB) | Mon, Wed, Sat — dep 01:45, arr 07:55 | Boeing 737 MAX 8 / Boeing 737-800 |
| flydubai | FZ756 (IST → DXB) | Thu, Fri — dep 01:50, arr 08:00 | Boeing 737-800 |
One-Stop Alternatives From Dubai to Istanbul
With five direct carriers listed in the published schedules, most travellers won’t need a connection. However, if your preferred dates are sold out or you’re looking for different timing, two Gulf hubs offer practical one-stop builds.
- Via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways: Etihad operates flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul (IST) after a road transfer from Dubai. Etihad offers a Dubai–Abu Dhabi airport shuttle; this is a ground connection, not a domestic flight.
- Via Doha on Qatar Airways: Qatar Airways flies services from Doha to Istanbul, and the Dubai–Doha leg takes under two hours. Connection times and availability depend on the travel date and both flight segments.
The Qatar Airways routing via Doha is a two-flight journey; both segments must be confirmed for the selected date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines fly direct from Dubai to Istanbul?
Published schedules list Emirates, Turkish Airlines and flydubai to Istanbul Airport (IST), plus flydubai, Pegasus and AJet to Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Examples include daily PC741 and VF144 from Dubai during 7–13 September 2026.
How long is the flight from Dubai to Istanbul?
Emirates’ current Dubai–Istanbul listings take about 4 hours 35–45 minutes; the September timetable examples to Sabiha Gökçen extend to about 5 hours 15 minutes. Return durations also vary by service, so they are not uniformly shorter.
Is Emirates flying Dubai to Istanbul right now?
Yes — Emirates operates up to three daily flights from Dubai to Istanbul Airport (IST). The A380 service (EK123), Boeing 777 service (EK121), and A350 rotation (EK117) run daily. That’s 21 outbound flights per week.
What aircraft does Emirates use on the Dubai–Istanbul route?
Emirates deploys three different widebody aircraft on this route — the Airbus A380, Boeing 777-300ER, and Airbus A350-900. Cabin availability depends on the assigned aircraft; the A350-900 features Emirates’ newest cabin product.
Are there one-stop alternatives if direct flights don’t work?
Qatar Airways offers a routing via Doha, subject to availability on both legs. Etihad from Abu Dhabi is another option after travelling from Dubai by road, including its airport shuttle; it is not a Dubai–Abu Dhabi domestic flight connection.
Sources
- Emirates — Flights from Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (IST)
- Emirates — Flights from Istanbul (IST) to Dubai (DXB)
- Turkish Airlines — Flights from Dubai to Istanbul
- Turkish Airlines — Flights from Istanbul to Dubai
- flydubai — Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (SAW) flights
- flydubai — Istanbul (SAW) to Dubai (DXB) flights
- Pegasus Airlines — Flight Cancellations Due to Airspace Restrictions (updated 30 April 2026)
- flydubai Newsroom — flydubai operates to two airports in Istanbul
- Emirates Media Centre — Emirates A350 network expansion
