İstanbul Airport

LTFM / IST

Arnavutköy, Istanbul, TR

Last Updated
Apr 23, 00:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 27 min ago
00:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
9°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
8 kt
70°
10+ km
Visibility
12,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTFM 230050Z 07008KT 9999 SCT017 SCT032 BKN120 09/05 Q1014 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 325 ft
SCT 1,700 ft AGL
SCT 3,200 ft AGL
BKN 12,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,025 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,525 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,325 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

İstanbul Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (70°) at 8 knots. Runway 36 is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 12000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 9°C (48°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (325 ft)
Pressure Alt
303 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -339 ft
ISA Deviation: -5.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTFM 222240Z 2300/2406 05010KT 9999 FEW010 SCT025 BKN120 BECMG 2314/2317 16008KT CAVOK BECMG 2319/2322 22012KT BECMG 2402/2405 34008KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:17Z BASE
+0h
VFR 50° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 12,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
TFM
16L
34R ✈️
16R
34L ✈️
17L
35R ✈️
17R
35L ✈️
18
36 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 34R
12,303 ft 147 ft ASP 174°
0.0 kt 8.0 kt
90° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 34L
12,303 ft 196 ft ASP 174°
0.0 kt 8.0 kt
90° angle
✈️ 17L/35R
Active: 35R
13,451 ft 196 ft ASP 174°
1.4 kt 7.9 kt
80° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 35L
13,451 ft 147 ft ASP 174°
1.4 kt 7.9 kt
80° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 36
10,039 ft 148 ft CON 179°
2.7 kt 7.5 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTFM

18,338 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
60.6%
MVFR
26.2%
IFR
6.4%
LIFR
6.8%

İstanbul Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 60.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 11.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperature extremes range from -4°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 11.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
21.4%
NE
23.2%
E
10.6%
SE
2.3%
S
17.3%
SW
14.6%
W
3.8%
NW
6.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.3°C
Range: -4°C to 27°C
-4°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 5.2%

Best Months for VFR

November September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.8 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.8 kt
Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt

Statistics computed from 18,338 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

İstanbul Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTFM
IATA Code: IST
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 325 ft MSL

Location

City: Arnavutköy, Istanbul
Country: TR
Latitude: 41.261297°
Longitude: 28.741951°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 16L/34R
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 196 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17L/35R
Length: 13,451 ft
Width: 196 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 13,451 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 10,039 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About İstanbul Airport

Overview

İstanbul Airport is a major international aviation hub located in the Arnavutköy district northwest of Istanbul, Turkey. Serving as a critical global connection point, the airport sits at an elevation of 325 feet mean sea level and features five substantial runways capable of handling large commercial aircraft. Its strategic location and extensive runway infrastructure make it a significant regional gateway for international and domestic air traffic.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at İstanbul Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with VFR conditions present 69.8% of the time and MVFR conditions occurring 25.4% of the year. The prevailing winds are from the northeast at an average of 12 knots, with temperatures ranging from -4°C to 27°C and an average of 13.3°C. Pilots can expect optimal visual flying conditions during September, October, and November, with minimal fog occurrence (0.7%) and consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport boasts five runways with impressive lengths between 10,039 and 13,451 feet, all constructed with asphalt surfaces. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with moderate crosswind components ranging from 6.4 to 8.2 knots. The airport's multiple parallel runway configuration provides significant operational flexibility for different wind conditions and traffic management.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions strongly favor approaches along the 16/34 and 17/35 runway axes, with consistent wind patterns from the northeast. Crosswind components remain relatively modest across all runways, typically between 6.4 and 8.2 knots, which should provide comfortable landing conditions for most aircraft. Pilots should anticipate stable approach conditions, particularly during the statistically most favorable months of September through November.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.