# Distance from Istanbul (IST) to Sandakan (SDK)

> 9,518 km · estimated flight time 12h · Ultra-long-haul route.

## Summary

- **Distance**: 9,518 km / 5,914 mi / 5,139 nm
- **Estimated flight time**: 12h
- **Heading**: 86° (east)
- **Return heading**: 311° (northwest)
- **Classification**: Ultra-long-haul
- **Type**: International (Turkey) → Malaysia
- **Time difference**: +5h (When it's 06:03 in Istanbul, it's 11:03 in Sandakan)
- **Elevation difference**: 279 ft (SDK is lower than IST)

## Airports

### [Istanbul Airport (IST)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/ist-istanbul-istanbul-airport/1ef266df-5964-637e-b8a8-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Istanbul, Turkey
- ICAO: LTFM
- Timezone: Europe/Istanbul
- Coordinates: 41.280000, 28.750000
- Elevation: 325 ft

### [Sandakan Airport (SDK)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sdk-sandakan-sandakan-airport/1ef266df-fb9f-6706-9553-06bb2780ed98)

- City: Sandakan, Malaysia
- ICAO: WBKS
- Timezone: Asia/Kuching
- Coordinates: 5.900000, 118.060000
- Elevation: 46 ft

## Route notes

This is an ultra-long-haul route, one of the longest in aviation. It requires wide-body aircraft with extended range capability such as the Airbus A350-900ULR or Boeing 777-200LR. Passengers should prepare for an extended flight with multiple meal services.

Time-zone information: When it's 06:03 in Istanbul, it's 11:03 in Sandakan.
The 5-hour time difference may cause some jet lag.

## Related

- [Istanbul Airport (IST)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/ist-istanbul-istanbul-airport/1ef266df-5964-637e-b8a8-06bb2780ed98)
- [Sandakan Airport (SDK)](https://www.flightduration.online/airport/sdk-sandakan-sandakan-airport/1ef266df-fb9f-6706-9553-06bb2780ed98)
- [Flight duration calculator](/#calculator)