Flying from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) to Erbil Airport (EBL): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport is 2 hours 25 minutes.
Istanbul and Erbil are both in the UTC+3 timezone. This means there's no time difference to consider.
Each week, there are 16 Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport flights. If you want to be on board as early as possible, opt for the 00:05 AJet flight. If you'd rather make the most of your day before flying, the latest flight is at 23:05 with Pegasus.
Your SAW to EBL flight won't wait if you're running late, so get to the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Travelling to Erbil (and then discovering more of Iraq!) is a breeze with AJet. This popular airline has direct flights from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport.
The airline with the highest booking volume on this route is AJet.
Pegasus Airlines leads the way as the most punctual carrier for SAW to EBL flights, with 80.87% of its services arriving on schedule.
If you want to include a stop along the way, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport. These are the top stopovers between SAW and EBL:
Antalya Airport
Ankara Esenboga Airport
Trabzon Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) to Erbil Airport (EBL)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport flight is $103. A round-trip plane ticket is currently $225. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares could change.
Score cheap tickets from SAW to EBL by booking at least five months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
The cheapest month for flights from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport is October. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have flexible travel dates.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you the moment a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from SAW to EBL.
Find the perfect flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
When it comes to the on-time performance of Istanbul Sabiha Airport, data shows 68% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Istanbul Sabiha Airport is about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
Expect a trip time of around 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
Need a handy hotel close to SAW? If you're boarding an early flight from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at Erbil Airport (EBL)
If you're arriving on a late Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport flight, few things top the convenience of being near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be tucked up in bed shortly after at one of these hotels near EBL:
Grab a Erbil Airport rental car and explore Erbil and beyond with your own wheels. Europcar, Avis and Hertz are well-known companies you can book with here.
Reserving your ride from Erbil Airport around two weeks in advance can help you get the best possible rate.
Getting from Erbil Airport (EBL) to central Erbil
From Erbil Airport, Erbil is approximately 11 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to drive to the centre.
It'll take around 35 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
When to fly to Erbil Airport (EBL)
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport. July is the busiest month to visit Erbil. If you like a more low-key vibe, go in March.
Lock in your flight from Istanbul Sabiha Airport to Erbil Airport for July if you'd like to go to Erbil during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 24ºC (75ºF) and 44ºC (111ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from SAW to EBL in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 1ºC (34ºF) and 14ºC (57ºF) on average.
Explore more of Iraq
Erbil has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Iraq waiting to be explored. About 322 kilometres south of Erbil, a trip to Baghdad will keep you on the move. Start with leading attractions like Al-Kadhimiya Mosque, Great Mosque and Mosque of the Prophet.
Around 80 kilometres west of Erbil, Mosul is another favourite stop in Iraq. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Rabban Hormizd Monastery, Al-Hadbaa Tower and Mosque of Prophet Yunus A.S. (Jonah).
