Flying from Sharjah Airport (SHJ) to Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW): what you need to know
Hop on a direct flight from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport and you'll be in the air for an average of 4 hours 50 minutes.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, making Istanbul one hour behind Sharjah.
Take your pick of 17 weekly Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport flights. The 03:40 departure with AJet is the earliest flight you can take. Air Arabia operates the latest service of the day at 20:50.
To ensure you catch your SHJ to SAW flight, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months like August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you ample time for security and boarding.
You can fly nonstop to Istanbul, Türkiye (Turkey). Prepare for takeoff with one of these airlines that offer direct flights from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport:
Air Arabia is the most frequently booked airline on this route.
With a dependable 81.67% of services landing on schedule, Air Arabia is the most punctual carrier offering SHJ to SAW flights.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or enjoy a detour to a new and interesting place. Check out these options between SHJ and SAW:
Cairo Airport
Kuwait Airport
Tbilisi Airport
Handy information about Sharjah Airport (SHJ)
When it comes to Sharjah Airport's on-time performance, 76% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Sharjah Airport is around 11 kilometres from central Sharjah. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
You can expect a trip time of around 40 minutes on public transport.
Need a convenient hotel close to SHJ? If you're catching an early flight from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your check-in counter:
Arriving at Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
Book a hotel close to SAW if you're catching a late Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport flight. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Explore without limits with a Istanbul Sabiha Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and find adventure across Istanbul and beyond.
For the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Istanbul Sabiha Airport around four weeks in advance.
Getting from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) to central Istanbul
From Istanbul Sabiha Airport, Istanbul is approximately 48 kilometres away. It takes around 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.
When to fly to Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
The quietest month for a flight from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport is March, while August is the busiest. Choose the best time to visit Istanbul based on whether you prefer a more fast-paced or easygoing experience.
The warmest month in Istanbul is July, with the temperature ranging between 21ºC and 30ºC. Book your flights from Sharjah Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from SHJ to SAW in January. Temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC then.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've experienced Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, popular attractions include The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul, Izmir is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.

