About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Ataturk (IST) to Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Bombay. Right side wins both departure and arrival with the Bosphorus and Istanbul's historic core on takeoff, and Mumbai Harbor and the city grid on landing. The mid-flight section over Iran and the Arabian Sea offers less differentiation between sides, making the endpoint views the deciding factor.
What can I see during takeoff from Ataturk in Istanbul?
During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. IST primarily uses runways 06/24 and 17R/35L. On the dominant westward departures (runway 24), a right-side seat gives you the Bosphorus Strait, the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet, and the Sea of Marmara as the aircraft banks south toward the route. Left side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Sultanahmet historic peninsula (Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque visible as dense cluster), Prince's Islands in Marmara.
What can I see when landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International in Bombay?
When landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM), sit on the Right side for the best views. BOM's primary runway 27 means aircraft approach from the east over the city, and runway 09 means departure over the sea. On approach to runway 27, right-side passengers look north over the Mumbai harbor, Dharavi, and the city's dense urban grid. Left side faces the Arabian Sea with little to see. On the common approach from the northeast, right side also captures the Thane Creek and Navi Mumbai. Notable sights include: Mumbai Harbor and Back Bay, Thane Creek, Dharavi and central Mumbai urban grid, Arabian Sea coastline with Marine Drive curve visible on clear days.
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Bombay?
The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Chhatrapati Shivaji International (BOM) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.
What does the Istanbul to Bombay flight path pass over?
The route tracks southeast across Turkey's Anatolian plateau, then over the Zagros Mountains of western Iran (a visually striking corrugated ridge system visible from both sides), across the Iranian interior plateau, over the Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman depending on routing, and then across the Arabian Sea to Mumbai. The Zagros ridgelines are the most dramatic mid-flight geography, appearing as parallel folded ranges from altitude.