IST vs NRT — Istanbul or Tokyo?

Verdict

Istanbul Airport (IST) scores higher overall at 8.5/10 versus Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) at 8.2/10. Tokyo Narita International Airport is more reliable for on-time departures (8.4/10).

Score comparison

Metric	Istanbul Airport	Tokyo Narita International Airport
FlightLogic Score	8.5	8.2
On-Time Performance	8.3	8.4
Passenger Experience	8.4	8.1
Facilities & Comfort	8.8	8.2
Lounge Score	9.0	8.6
City	Istanbul	Tokyo
Country	Turkey	Japan
Terminals	1 mega-terminal	3 terminals (T1, T2, T3)
Annual passengers	76M+	33M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	IST — Istanbul	NRT — Tokyo
Rail / public transport	M11 metro to city; Havaist and taxi	—
To city centre	~45–60 min to Sultanahmet by metro/taxi	—
Lounge day pass	Turkish Airlines lounge for eligible tickets; limited paid access	—
Min. connection time	90+ min — terminal is vast	—
Primary hub carriers	Turkish Airlines (dominant hub carrier)	—

Detailed profiles

Istanbul, Turkey · IST · #1 in this comparison

Istanbul Airport

1 mega-terminal · 76M+ passengers/year

8.5 / 10

How good is Istanbul Airport?

Istanbul Airport (IST) scores 8.5/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (8.3), passenger experience (8.4), and facilities (8.8). Lounge quality rates 9.0/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Istanbul Airport (IST) is Turkish Airlines' mega-hub, rated 8.5/10 on FlightLogic. The 2019 single-terminal design handles 76M+ passengers with one of the world's largest business lounges. Ideal for Europe-Asia-Africa connections on Turkish Airlines. Allow 90+ minutes for connections.

FlightLogic Score 8.5 Excellent

On-time 8.3 Departure reliability

Experience 8.4 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 8.8 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 9.0 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

8.3

Passenger Experience

8.4

Facilities & Comfort

8.8

Lounge score 9.0/10

Highlights

Single mega-terminal opened 2019 — one of the world's largest airport buildings under one roof
Turkish Airlines Business Lounge: 60,000+ sqm with cinema, golf simulator, museum, and extensive dining
130+ country connections via Turkish Airlines — one of the world's most connected hubs by country count
Istanbul scores 8.5/10 on FlightLogic with strong facilities (8.8/10) — lounge score 9.0/10

Overview

Massive new hub designed for Turkish Airlines with impressive lounges and growing route network.

Turkish Airlines lounge and terminal

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge at IST spans over 60,000 square metres — one of the largest in the world — with multiple dining areas, a cinema, golf simulator, museum section, and prayer rooms. Business class and Star Alliance Gold passengers on Turkish Airlines access it free.

The single-terminal design means all connections are airside without inter-terminal transfers, but the terminal is vast — allow generous connection times of 90+ minutes for international-to-international connections.

Istanbul as a connection hub

Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline, making IST ideal for reaching secondary cities in Africa, Central Asia, and the Balkans that lack direct flights from Western Europe.

Compare IST against DOH (Qatar) and DXB (Emirates) for similar Europe-Asia routings — Turkish often wins on fare price; Gulf carriers win on premium product consistency.

Tokyo, Japan · NRT · #2 in this comparison

Tokyo Narita International Airport

3 terminals (T1, T2, T3) · 33M+ passengers/year

8.2 / 10

How good is Tokyo Narita International Airport?

Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) scores 8.2/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (8.4), passenger experience (8.1), and facilities (8.2). Lounge quality rates 8.6/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Tokyo Narita (NRT) is rated 8.2/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.6/10. JAL lounges in Terminal 2 and ANA in Terminal 1 serve premium passengers. Allow 60–90 minutes by train to central Tokyo. UK travellers often choose Haneda for city access; Narita for specific carrier schedules. See /guides/narita-airport-lounge-guide-2026.

FlightLogic Score 8.2 Excellent

On-time 8.4 Departure reliability

Experience 8.1 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 8.2 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.6 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

8.4

Passenger Experience

8.1

Facilities & Comfort

8.2

Lounge score 8.6/10

Highlights

Terminal 1 serves Star Alliance (ANA); Terminal 2 serves oneworld (JAL) — verify terminal on your ticket
JAL First Lounge and ANA Suite Lounge among Japan's best airline clubs
N'EX Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in ~60 minutes — reliable for UK arrivals
Haneda vs Narita: NRT scores 8.2/10 overall but Haneda wins on city proximity (see /airports/haneda)

Overview

Tokyo's legacy international hub — JAL and ANA premium lounges, strong on-time performance, and 60–90 minute train ride to central Tokyo versus Haneda's 15–30 minutes.

JAL and ANA lounge access

Japan Airlines operates Sakura and First lounges in Terminal 2 for oneworld passengers. ANA Suite and Business lounges in Terminal 1 serve Star Alliance premium passengers. Terminal 3 handles LCCs separately.

Inter-terminal transfers require landside bus or train — not airside. Connections between JAL and ANA metal require immigration and re-security unless on a protected interline.

FAQ

Which is better, Istanbul Airport or Tokyo Narita International Airport?

Istanbul Airport (IST) scores higher overall at 8.5/10 versus Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) at 8.2/10. Tokyo Narita International Airport is more reliable for on-time departures (8.4/10).

Which has better lounges, IST or NRT?

Istanbul Airport (IST) scores higher for lounges at 9.0/10, versus Tokyo Narita International Airport at 8.6/10.

Which airport is more on-time, IST or NRT?

Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) has stronger on-time performance at 8.4/10 versus Istanbul Airport (IST) at 8.3/10.