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Sulaymaniyah Airport (Silêmanî, ISU): airlines, connections and the first direct flight from Europe
Sulaymaniyah Airport (Silêmanî, ISU): which airlines fly there, where to change planes, the first direct flight from Düsseldorf and live fares.
Sulaymaniyah Airport (ISU) is the airport of Silêmanî, the city in the east of Başûr often written Slemani. Its official name is Jalal Talabani International Airport. Until mid December 2026 every trip from Europe to Silêmanî has one change of planes. Then Condor starts the first direct route from Europe, from Düsseldorf. This guide covers that new flight, the airports where you can change, and when it pays to compare Silêmanî with Hewlêr.
Fares to Silêmanî from your city
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The first direct flight from Europe: Düsseldorf from 18 December 2026
Condor flies from Düsseldorf to Silêmanî twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The first flight is on Friday 18 December 2026, just in time for Christmas and New Year, and the route is planned for the whole winter of 2026/27 and the summer of 2027. Tickets are on sale.
For many families this changes the trip. Until now a visit to Silêmanî from Europe meant a change in Constantinople, Doha, Amman or Dubai, often with a long wait. A direct flight saves hours and the risk of a missed connection.
Who gains most:
- Germany: Düsseldorf is within reach for most of North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.
- The Netherlands and Belgium: Düsseldorf is also close for travellers from the east and south of the Netherlands and from Belgium.
- Further away: from Scandinavia or the United Kingdom a direct flight from Düsseldorf only helps if you combine it with a separate flight. That is two bookings, with the risk of a missed connection on you.
If you want to be home for Christmas, the first two flights in the planned timetable leave Düsseldorf on Friday 18 and Tuesday 22 December. Because it is a new route in a busy season, look at the fares for those weeks early. The live fares on the Silêmanî ticket page show what you can book now from your city.
Changing planes: Constantinople, Doha, Amman and Dubai
From every other city in Europe, and from North America, you change planes once. These are the transfer airports with flights to Silêmanî:
| Change in | Airline | To Silêmanî |
|---|---|---|
| Constantinople (IST) | THY | see the search |
| Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) | Pegasus, AJet | see the search |
| Doha (DOH) | Qatar Airways | 5 a week (winter) |
| Amman (AMM) | Royal Jordanian | 3 to 4 a week |
| Dubai (DXB) | flydubai | 3 a week |
Sabiha Gökçen is the second airport of Constantinople, and flydubai flights are partly sold as Emirates.
Silêmanî has fewer flights than Hewlêr, so the connection is often the weak point. A fare that looks cheap can come with a wait of half a day or a night in the transfer airport. Look at the total travel time, and prefer one booking for both flights: then the airline takes care of you if the first flight is late.
From London and Manchester
From London THY flies via Constantinople, Qatar Airways via Doha and Royal Jordanian via Amman. From Manchester, Constantinople and Doha are the usual transfer airports. Which combination is cheapest depends heavily on the day of the week, because the flights to Silêmanî do not run daily on every route.
From Stockholm, Amsterdam and Copenhagen
From Stockholm you change once, usually in Constantinople or Doha. From Amsterdam and Copenhagen you have a second option: Fly Erbil flies direct to Hewlêr, on Fridays from Amsterdam and twice a week from Copenhagen. Whether that suits you depends on where your family lives; compare both.
From North America
There is no direct flight from North America to Kurdistan. From Toronto, Washington or Dallas you change at least once, for example in Doha with Qatar Airways, in Dubai with flydubai or in Constantinople with THY. On such long trips the connection time matters even more: a short connection after a night flight is tiring, a very long one costs a day. The search shows the options per date.
Silêmanî or Hewlêr: compare the fares
Hewlêr has far more flights than Silêmanî: about 15 to 22 arrivals on a normal day, with direct flights from Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart, Hannover, Berlin and Copenhagen. Silêmanî has fewer connections, but you land closer to home if your family lives there.
For that reason many travellers compare both airports before they book. Both have their own ticket page with live fares:
Our guide to Erbil Airport lists every direct flight to Hewlêr by day of the week. Every direct route from Europe to Kurdistan, including the new Condor flight, is on the page with all direct flights.
Before you land: visa and eSIM
Silêmanî is in Başûr, so the same visa applies as for Hewlêr: the visa of the Kurdistan Region, valid only there. Arrange it online before you fly; some nationalities need a local sponsor. The rules per passport are on our visa page.
An eSIM gives you mobile data from the moment you land. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home provider, install it at home on wifi, and switch it on after landing. The eSIM option below this article opens a provider where you can buy one.
The weather in Silêmanî is a little cooler than in Hewlêr and noticeably wetter in winter, with snow on the mountains around the city. Our guide to Erbil weather by month compares Silêmanî with Hewlêr, Dihok, Amed and Mêrdîn, month by month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the airport in Sulaymaniyah called?
Sulaymaniyah International Airport, code ISU. Its official name is Jalal Talabani International Airport. In Kurdish the city is Silêmanî, often written Slemani.
Are there direct flights from Germany to Sulaymaniyah?
From 18 December 2026 Condor flies from Düsseldorf on Tuesdays and Fridays. Until then, and from other cities, you change planes once.
Where do I change planes for Sulaymaniyah from London?
Usually in Constantinople with THY, Pegasus or AJet, in Doha with Qatar Airways or in Amman with Royal Jordanian. The live fares show which combinations exist from your airport on your dates.
What is the airport code for Sulaymaniyah?
ISU. Booking sites list the city as Sulaymaniyah; search for that name or for the code.
Is it cheaper to fly to Hewlêr or to Silêmanî?
It depends on your dates and your departure city. Hewlêr has many more flights, including direct ones from seven European cities, so compare both airports before you book.