Istanbul Airport
Located in Arnavutköy, Istanbul Airport (IST) is the main base of Turkish Airlines and serves hundreds of domestic and international destinations. It consistently ranks among the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic.
At a transfer hub of this scale, missed connections are common: when the first flight is delayed, passengers miss the onward leg and the total delay at the final destination can run to several hours. In peak seasons, slot and operational delays also occur.
Flights departing Istanbul Airport are covered by Turkey's SHY-YOLCU regulation, and EU261 can apply on Europe-linked itineraries. For connecting journeys under a single booking, the assessment is based on the total delay at the final destination, and compensation can reach €600.
Compensation by distance
If your flight at IST is delayed or cancelled
- Note the cause and length of the delay; ask the airline for a written statement.
- Keep your boarding pass, ticket and booking documents.
- Use the care the airline must provide — meals, communication and accommodation where applicable. Accepting them does not waive your compensation.
- Run a free 2-minute check with your flight details.