San Diego to Istanbul
14h 11m The flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to İstanbul Airport (IST) covers 11,076 km (6,882 miles) and takes approximately 14h 11m gate to gate for a typical jet.
The route heads north-east on an initial great-circle bearing of 25°, passing near 68.4° N, 54.6° 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 | 20h 08m | 20h 33m |
| Narrowbody jet (A320, 737) | 780 km/h | 14h 12m | 14h 37m |
| Widebody jet (777, 787, A350) | 900 km/h | 12h 18m | 12h 44m |
| Private jet (Gulfstream) | 850 km/h | 13h 02m | 13h 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
| SAN | IST | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | San Diego International Airport | İstanbul Airport |
| City | San Diego | Istanbul |
| Country | United States | Turkey |
| ICAO | KSAN | LTFM |
| Coordinates | 32.7336, -117.19 | 41.2749, 28.7321 |
| Elevation | 17 ft | 325 ft |
Questions
How long is the flight from San Diego to Istanbul?
A non-stop flight from San Diego (SAN) to Istanbul (IST) takes about 14h 11m. The great-circle distance is 11,076 km (6,882 miles, 5,981 nautical miles), flying north-east on an initial bearing of 25°.
How far is San Diego from Istanbul?
11,076 kilometres in a straight line over the earth's surface — 6,882 miles or 5,981 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 SAN and IST?
This page calculates the direct-line time and distance; it does not track airline schedules. At 11,076 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 14h 11m 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.
Other routes from San Diego
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.