Flying from Johannesburg or Cape Town to İzmir for Treatment

If you are travelling from South Africa to İzmir for treatment, the usual way is to fly from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Istanbul, then take a short domestic flight to İzmir. Turkish Airlines flies direct to Istanbul from both cities. From Istanbul to İzmir it is about an hour more. Book your flights only once your written treatment plan is confirmed, and buy a return ticket you can change, because your surgeon decides when you are fit to fly home.

Johannesburg to Istanbul flights and Cape Town to Istanbul flights: the routes

Most South African patients fly Turkish Airlines, which runs direct flights from both Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) and Cape Town to Istanbul Airport. South African business press has reported that Turkish Airlines is moving from seven to ten direct weekly flights on each route from October 2026, so there are more days to choose from than before.

Since March 2026 South African Airways and Turkish Airlines have had a codeshare agreement. Turkish Airlines flight numbers appear on SAA flights within South Africa (including from Durban and Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth), and SAA flight numbers appear on selected Turkish Airlines flights to Istanbul. In practice, if you live in Durban or Gqeberha you can usually connect through Johannesburg or Cape Town on one booking. Check this with the airline or your travel agent when you book.

You can also fly to Istanbul with a stop somewhere else, such as the Gulf or Europe. That adds hours and another change of plane, and after surgery fewer changes is usually easier.

From Istanbul to İzmir

İzmir’s airport is Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB), in the Gaziemir district south of the city centre. Turkish Airlines flies direct from Istanbul Airport (IST), where the flights from South Africa land, to İzmir. The domestic flight takes about an hour.

Tip: book the international and domestic legs on one ticket where you can. Your bags are then normally checked through, and if the first flight is late the airline handles the rebooking. If you book separately, leave a generous gap in Istanbul and check whether you need to collect your bags and check in again. Your first stop in Turkey is where you go through passport control, so that is where your e-Visa is checked.

What to compare	One ticket via Istanbul (IST → ADB)	Separate tickets
Bags	Usually checked through to İzmir	May need to collect and re-check
Missed connection	Airline normally rebooks you	Your own responsibility
Changing the return date	One booking to change	Two bookings to change
Airport in Istanbul	Same airport (IST)	Check: Istanbul has more than one airport
Best for	Most patients, especially flying home after surgery	Only if you have a clear reason

Time difference, visa and timing your booking

Time difference: South Africa (SAST) is UTC+2 and Turkey is UTC+3 all year. Neither country changes its clocks, so İzmir is always one hour ahead of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Jet lag is barely an issue. Mostly you will feel tired from the long journey.

Visa: South African passport holders need a visa for Turkey. For a short stay it is an e-Visa you apply for online before you fly. We keep the steps, the official website and what to watch out for on one page: Turkey visa for South Africans. Use only the official government website, not third-party sites.

When to book flights: book only after your written treatment plan is confirmed. That means after your free online consultation, after the surgeon has reviewed your photos and medical history, and once your surgery date is agreed in writing. Booking before that risks paying for flights that don’t match the surgery date or the recovery time.

How long to stay, and what to pack

How long you stay depends on the procedure and on when your surgeon clears you to fly. Many patients stay one to two weeks. Because the flight home to South Africa is a long one, your surgeon may want you to stay a little longer than a patient flying a short distance would. Your written plan gives the recommended stay for your treatment, and we plan your check-ups around your flight home.

A practical packing list:

• Passport (check it is valid well beyond your return date), e-Visa printout and a copy on your phone
• Your written treatment plan, medical history, and a list of your current medication in their original packaging
• Loose, front-opening clothes and slip-on shoes, which are easier after surgery
• A phone charger and a travel adaptor (Turkey uses the two-pin European plug, type C/F)
• A neck pillow and a water bottle for the flights
• Compression garments or stockings only if your surgeon has advised them (see below)
• Travel insurance documents

Arriving in İzmir: airport pick-up and recovery

When you land at Adnan Menderes Airport, our team meets you and takes you to the hospital or your accommodation. We also arrange your transport to every appointment. You have English-speaking support around the clock, including carers and chaperones in hospital.

Our surgeons, including plastic surgeons Prof. Dr. Ahmet Seyhan, Dr. Cenk Tokat and Dr. Murat Melih Can, operate in private hospitals in İzmir such as Gazi and Egepol. After hospital, many patients recover at Mandarin Grove, our own recovery retreat in Urla. It is not a standard hotel. You get a private ensuite room and freshly cooked meals every day, a companion can stay with you, and experienced staff watch over you and report even small concerns straight to the medical team.

Flying home after surgery

This is the part that matters most. Your surgeon decides when you are fit to fly, not the airline ticket. Long-haul flights raise the risk of blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), and recent surgery is itself a recognised risk factor. That is why we plan the post-op checks around your flight home and why a changeable return ticket is worth having.

General measures that are commonly advised, and that your surgeon will confirm or adjust for you:

• Get up and walk around when it is safe to, and do ankle and calf exercises in your seat
• Choose an aisle seat if you can, and keep bags from blocking your legs
• Drink plenty of water, and limit alcohol and sleeping tablets
• Wear compression stockings only if advised, in the correct type and size

If after travelling you notice a swollen, painful leg (especially one more than the other), chest pain or difficulty breathing, get urgent medical help. After you are home, follow-up continues online and on WhatsApp, and our one-year treatment guarantee applies under its terms.

Travelling with a companion

We recommend that you bring someone if you can, especially for surgery. A companion helps with bags on the way home, keeps you company during recovery, and can be a second pair of ears at appointments. A companion can stay with you at Mandarin Grove. They also need their own e-Visa and should book flights on the same itinerary as you, also changeable, in case your return date moves.

When staying in South Africa may be better

Good surgical care exists in South Africa as well as in Turkey. What matters is the named surgeon, the hospital, the aftercare and continuity of care at home. Treatment close to home may be the better choice if you have a medical condition that makes long-haul flying after surgery risky (for example a history of blood clots), if you need very close in-person follow-up in the weeks after surgery, or if you can’t take enough time off to stay until your surgeon clears you to fly. We will tell you honestly if we think that applies to you.

What we will not do: we will not tell you to book flights before your plan is confirmed, push you to fly home before your surgeon is satisfied, or pass you on to a third party. Since 2005 our own team has looked after each patient personally, from the first message to years of follow-up.

Frequently asked questions

Are there direct flights from Johannesburg to Istanbul?

Yes. Turkish Airlines flies direct from Johannesburg to Istanbul, and from Cape Town to Istanbul. From Istanbul you take a short domestic flight to İzmir.

How do I get from Istanbul to İzmir?

By a domestic flight of about an hour to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB). Booking it on the same ticket as your international flight is usually the simplest option. We meet you at the airport in İzmir.

What is the time difference between South Africa and Turkey?

Turkey is one hour ahead of South Africa all year round. Neither country uses daylight saving time.

Do South Africans need a visa for Turkey?

Yes. South African passport holders apply for an e-Visa online before travelling. Our Turkey visa guide for South Africans explains the steps and links to the official website.

When can I fly home to South Africa after surgery?

Your surgeon decides, based on your procedure and your recovery. Because it is a long-haul flight with a raised risk of blood clots, buy a return ticket you can change, and follow your surgeon’s advice on moving, hydration and compression stockings.

Plan your trip with us

Start with a free online consultation. Once your written plan and surgery date are confirmed, you can book your flights knowing exactly how long to stay. You can also message us on WhatsApp from South Africa. For everything else, from visas to aftercare at home, read our guide for South African patients and the Turkey e-Visa guide for South Africans.

Sources

• BusinessTech: New long-haul international flights landing in South Africa
• ATTA: Turkish Airlines and SAA sign codeshare
• Turkish Airlines: Flights to İzmir
• timeanddate.com: Time zone in Johannesburg
• Wikipedia: Time in Turkey
• NHS Fit for Travel: Deep vein thrombosis