Istanbul to Houston
13h 08m The flight from İstanbul Airport (IST) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) covers 10,231 km (6,357 miles) and takes approximately 13h 08m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-west on an initial great-circle bearing of 314°, passing near 56.6° N, 40.9° W at its midpoint.
The route
The great-circle path — the shortest line between the two airports across the curve of the earth. On a flat map it looks bent; on a globe it is straight.
Flight time at different cruise speeds
Aircraft type, winds and routing all move the real number. This is the same distance flown at different speeds, plus the 25-minute ground and climb allowance.
| Typical of | Cruise speed | Airborne | Gate to gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop / regional | 550 km/h | 18h 36m | 19h 01m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 13h 07m | 13h 32m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 11h 22m | 11h 47m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 12h 02m | 12h 27m |
Headwinds on an eastbound long-haul routinely add 30–60 minutes; the same route westbound can be quicker. Airlines publish schedules with padding built in.
Both airports
| IST | IAH | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | İstanbul Airport | George Bush Intercontinental Airport |
| City | Istanbul | Houston |
| Country | Turkey | United States |
| ICAO | LTFM | KIAH |
| Coordinates | 41.2749, 28.7321 | 29.9844, -95.3414 |
| Elevation | 325 ft | 97 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Houston?
A non-stop flight from Istanbul (IST) to Houston (IAH) takes about 13h 08m. The great-circle distance is 10,231 km (6,357 miles, 5,524 nautical miles), flying north-west on an initial bearing of 314°.
How far is Istanbul from Houston?
10,231 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,357 miles or 5,524 nautical miles. Actual flown distance is usually 2–5% longer because aircraft follow airways, avoid weather and route around restricted airspace.
Is there a non-stop flight between IST and IAH?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 10,231 km the route is within reach of long-range widebodies, though not every city pair is served non-stop. Check an airline or booking site for what is actually scheduled.
What should I expect on a 13h 08m flight?
Anything past six hours is a long-haul flight: expect at least one meal service, a significant time-zone shift, and enough sitting that circulation and hydration start to matter. Cabin altitude, dry air and disrupted sleep do more damage to a training routine than the flight itself.
Airport coordinates from OurAirports (public domain). Distance is a great-circle calculation; flight time uses the model described on the method page. Flight times are great-circle estimates for planning only — always check the airline's published schedule.