Istanbul's Airport Options: How Many And What's The Difference?

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, is served by three airports: Istanbul International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Atatürk International Airport. The New Istanbul Airport, which opened in 2018, is the largest airport in Europe and the second busiest airport in Europe. It is located on the European side of the city and is the primary entry point into Turkey. Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is located on the Asian side of the city and opened in 2001. Atatürk International Airport, the third and smallest airport, is also located on the European side and has ceased commercial operations since 2019.

Istanbul International Airport (IST)

The airport features a wide range of modern amenities, including numerous retail stores and an extensive duty-free shopping area, as well as over 40 restaurants and cafes, and full Wi-Fi access throughout the terminal. It also offers various museums and exhibitions, family services and playgrounds, lounges, spa facilities, and special services for passengers with disabilities. The airport has only one terminal building, which is the biggest terminal building under one roof worldwide. However, three more terminals are planned to be added in the long term.

Istanbul International Airport is easily accessible by major highways and public transportation. It is served by the Metro Line M11, as well as public buses and taxis. The airport is about 42 km from the Istanbul city center, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour by car.

The airport has received several accolades, including being voted "The Best Airport in the World" by Travel & Leisure readers and winning the 2024 Skytrax Award for the Best Airport Dining category.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, is served by three airports: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), Istanbul Airport (IST), and Ataturk Airport (ISL). Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is located on the Asian side of the city, 32 kilometres southeast of the city centre, and is named after Sabiha Gökçen, the world's first female fighter pilot. The airport opened in 2001 and is a hub for local airlines Pegasus Airlines and Anadolu Jet.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport offers a wide range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free journey. The airport features over 70 restaurants and cafes, 30 stores, and a 4500 sqm duty-free area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, and the airport has implemented full security measures. The airport hotel, Sabiha Gokcen Airport Hotel, is a boutique hotel with 4 floors and 128 rooms, located just outside the passenger terminal. A free shuttle service is available 24/7, departing every 30 minutes.

The airport has two runways and a new terminal building with a capacity of 25 million passengers annually. It is equipped with 112 check-in counters, 24 online check-in counters, a VIP building, and apron-viewing CIP halls with business lounges. Additionally, the terminal features a 400 sqm conference centre and a 5000 sqm food court. The airport's cargo terminal has a capacity of 90,000 tons per year and is equipped with 18 cold storage depots.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is easily accessible by car and public transportation. It is located 31km from Kadikoy and travellers can also catch a ferry to visit the European side of Istanbul. The M4 metro line has been extended to the airport, and shuttle bus services are available.

Atatürk International Airport (ISL)

The airport was founded in 1911 as a small apron with two hangars built in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, for the Ottoman Armed Forces. In 1933, today's Turkish Airlines, then known as Türkiye Devlet Hava Yolları, began its flights with two Curtiss Kingbird aircraft, offering flights from Istanbul to Ankara and Athens. The small apron was expanded and a new passenger terminal was built, marking the beginning of the airport's 86-year history. It was originally named Yeşilköy Airport, but was renamed Atatürk International Airport in the 1980s.

In 2017, Atatürk International Airport was ranked as the 5th busiest airport in Europe, serving over 100 million passengers combined with Istanbul's other international airport, Sabiha Gökçen. However, due to being hemmed in by the city on three sides and the Sea of Marmara on the other, the airport was unable to expand to meet growing demands. This, coupled with security fears, led to a decline in passengers and the decision to build a new airport.

In April 2019, all commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk International Airport to the new Istanbul International Airport, and the IATA airport code IST was also transferred to the new airport. Atatürk Airport's IATA code was changed to ISL, and it now serves only private and business jets, as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey.

The Turkish government has announced plans to construct a giant park, the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on the grounds of the former airport. The park is intended to correct some of the haphazard urban planning that has characterised Turkish cities since the 1970s, and will feature more than 132,500 trees planted in place of the asphalt runway and taxiways.

Istanbul Airport City project

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is a major hub for international travel and has three airports: Istanbul International Airport (also known as the New Istanbul Airport), Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Atatürk Airport. The Istanbul International Airport is the primary entry point into Turkey, with Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Atatürk Airport also providing connections to regional and international destinations.

The Istanbul International Airport is located on the European side of the city and is one of the largest and most advanced airports in the world. It features six runways and has a capacity of up to 90 million passengers per year, serving 122 countries and acting as the main hub for Turkish Airlines. The airport boasts modern facilities, including over 40 restaurants and cafes, full Wi-Fi access, various museums and exhibitions, and an expansive duty-free shopping area with over 100 stores. It also offers easy access to both sides of Istanbul by metro or bus lines.

The Istanbul Airport City project is part of the airport's ongoing construction and expansion plans. Once fully completed by 2027, the airport will have six sets of runways (eight in total), 16 taxiways, and a total annual passenger capacity of 150 million. The airport will also feature a state palace, convention centres, power plants, and wastewater treatment facilities.

The airport's design draws on the architectural character of Istanbul, with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and an extensive forecourt development. The terminal is arranged over two and a half levels, with a central hall connecting to piers at each end, creating a coherent and spacious transition for passengers. The simplicity of its organisation and ease of navigation belie its size.

The Istanbul Airport City project aims to create a grand gateway to Istanbul and Turkey, reflecting the rich cultural influences of the historic city while offering unparalleled passenger capacity and vital economic growth.

Transport to and from Istanbul's airports

Istanbul is served by three airports: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) on the Asian side, and Istanbul Airport (IST) and Ataturk Airport (ISL) on the European side. Below is a guide to transport to and from each airport.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul at Kurtkoy in Pendik district, 12 kilometres from Pendik, 40 kilometres from Kadikoy, and 50 kilometres from Taksim Square. The airport is named after Sabiha Gökçen, Turkey's first female pilot and the world's first female fighter pilot.

The airport is well-connected to the city by taxi and shuttle bus services. There is also a subway line connecting the airport with Kadikoy district, with several stops along the route.

Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul's main airport is located 35 kilometres north of the city centre (Taksim Square), in the Arnavutkoy district by the shores of the Black Sea. It is easily accessible by car and public transportation.

The M11 metro line operates between Gayrettepe and Istanbul Airport, with transfers to and from other lines available. The Istanbul Airport metro line has 10 stations in total: Gayrettepe, Kagithane, University-Hasdal, Kemerburgaz, Gokturk, Ihsaniye, Istanbul Airport and Cargo Terminal, Tasoluk, and Arnavutkoy. The metro journey between Gayrettepe and Istanbul Airport stations takes around 30 minutes.

Havaist airport buses operate between Istanbul Airport and numerous points on both the European and Anatolian sides of the city.

The H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, and H-8 buses also operate to Istanbul Airport.

Taxis operate 24/7 from Istanbul Airport and the city centre. The journey takes around 60 minutes, depending on traffic.

Ataturk Airport (ISL)

Ataturk Airport is no longer open to civilian passenger traffic, having been replaced by the new Istanbul Airport in 2019. It is now primarily used for cargo and private flights.

Frequently asked questions