Via Istanbul

Watchful 59 /100

London → Seoul

Near a warning area, but does not cross it

Getting old 8 to 30 days old. May still be right — double-check before you book.

Near a warning area · Weak reroute options · via Istanbul · ~15h 30m

Route assessed 12d ago

Why book

Hub break at Istanbul before the long Central Asian corridor leg to Seoul. Lower advisory exposure than Gulf options.

The catch

Very few backup paths if this route is disrupted

Worth knowing

IST→ICN routes through the Central Asian corridor. Check ATFM status before the second leg departs Istanbul.

Watchful 59

London → Seoul

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Getting old

8 to 30 days old. May still be right — double-check before you book.

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Route strength 46

Other paths · Stop quality

Problems now 71

Closed areas · Flight options

Ranks below HKG because IST hub scores 1/3 vs HKG's 0/3, and IST→ICN is a much longer second leg than HKG→ICN. Ranks above Gulf options because advisory exposure is 1 vs 2.

LHR→IST avoids the advisory zone entirely. IST→ICN uses the Central Asian corridor — level-1 advisory proximity, no current routing restriction.
Istanbul hub provides a natural decision point: assess corridor conditions before committing to the 9+ hour second leg.
Turkish Airlines and Korean Air both operate this routing with adequate combined frequency.

Other options for this trip

Via Hong Kong 64

Korean Air Direct 52

Scores are based on official airspace warnings, added flight time, and how many reroute options exist. This is not a safety rating. Always check with your airline before you book.

For reference only · Verify before booking.

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