
Istanbul, Turkey, is served by several airports, including the New Istanbul Airport (IST), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), and the now-defunct Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The New Istanbul Airport, located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, is a modern aviation hub with an initial annual capacity of 90 million travellers. It is considered a significant achievement of the Turkish government, boasting impressive infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and environmentally-friendly features. With its advanced systems and expansive reach, the New Istanbul Airport has solidified itself as a major transportation hub, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Istanbul International Airport (IST) |
| Other Names | New Istanbul Airport, IGA Istanbul Airport |
| Location | Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, European side of Istanbul, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 41.276901, 28.729324 |
| Construction | Between 2014 and 2018 |
| Opening Date | 29 October 2018 |
| Area | 7,600 hectares (19,000 acres) |
| Distance from Istanbul Atatürk Airport | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Number of Terminals | 1 |
| Number of Concourses | 5 |
| Number of Runways | 6 (4 operational) |
| Number of Taxiways | 8 |
| Apron Space | 4,000,000 m2 (43,000,000 sq ft) |
| Car Parking Capacity | 12,000 vehicles |
| Annual Passenger Capacity | 90 million (planned to be 150 million) |
| Airlines | Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo |
| Public Transport | IETT and Havaist buses, city taxis, Istanbul Metro |
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What You'll Learn
- Istanbul Airport is located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area
- The airport is one of the busiest in Europe and the world
- It is served by IETT buses, city taxis, and Havaist buses
- The airport has advanced security and air traffic control systems
- The airport is environmentally-friendly and has LEED Gold certification

Istanbul Airport is located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area
The airport is reachable by car from the O-7 motorway and/or D.020 highway. Istanbul city taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the arrival and departure areas of the airport. A trip to Istanbul city centre by taxi takes approximately an hour. There are also plans for a mainline railway to connect the airport to Çatalca and Halkalı, and via outer city bypass running over the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge across the Bosporus and connecting with the Anatolian rail network at Gebze. However, construction has been continuously delayed.
Istanbul Airport is served by IETT and Havaist buses, with tickets ranging from 15.33₺-85₺ (0.84€-4.66€/080.$-4.60€). The M11 metro line, which opened on 22 January 2023, runs to and from the airport, with trains going eastward to Gayrettepe and westward to Arnavutköy. An extension to Halkalı is currently under construction.
Istanbul Airport is a modern aviation hub, providing its passengers with all the anticipated services and amenities. The airport has one terminal building, which is the biggest terminal building under one roof worldwide. The terminal is split over two areas: Departures and Arrivals. It has 5 piers, out of which four (Piers A, B, D, and F) serve the international boarding gates, and the fifth (Pier G), as well as 3 boarding areas of Pier F, serve the domestic destinations.
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The airport is one of the busiest in Europe and the world
Istanbul Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the world. It is located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, on the European side of the city, 40 km (24.8 miles) from Taksim and 52 km (32.3 miles) from Kadıköy. The airport is reachable by car from the O-7 motorway and/or D.020 highway, and Istanbul city taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the arrival and departure areas. A trip to the Istanbul city centre by taxi takes approximately an hour. The airport is also served by public IETT and Havaist buses, and an extension of the Istanbul Metro to the airport is planned.
The airport is a major transportation hub, connecting three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. It serves more than 350 domestic and international destinations in 110 countries, and its duty-free area is one of the largest in the world. The airport has an annual passenger capacity of 90 million, and it served over 76 million passengers in 2023. It is expected to host more than 200 million passengers by 2025.
The airport's terminal building is the biggest in the world under one roof. It has five piers, out of which four (Piers A, B, D, and F) serve the international boarding gates, and the fifth (Pier G) serves domestic destinations along with three boarding areas of Pier F. The airport has four runways in operation, with six planned when the project is complete.
The airport is highly secure, with 3,500 security personnel and a total of 1,850 police, including 750 immigration officers. The perimeter is protected using ground radar, fixed CCTV cameras every 60 meters, pan-tilt-zoom cameras every 360 meters, thermal cameras, and fibre optic sensors every 720 meters. The active terminal building uses up to 9,000 CCTV cameras.
The parking facilities at Istanbul Airport are spread over five blocks, with a total of 40,000 parking spots. The airport also features an indoor car park with a capacity of 12,000 vehicles.
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It is served by IETT buses, city taxis, and Havaist buses
Istanbul Airport is a major transportation hub, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is served by several transport options, including IETT buses, city taxis, and Havaist buses.
The IETT and Havaist buses provide a convenient and affordable way to travel between the airport and the city. The IETT buses are public buses that connect the airport to various parts of Istanbul. These buses are operated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and offer a comfortable and reliable ride. The Havaist buses, on the other hand, are airport shuttle services that provide direct and efficient transport to and from the airport. They are also expected to be more comfortable and reliable than a taxi, with reasonable prices. The frequency of the Havaist bus service is adjusted according to the flight schedule, ensuring that travellers can easily get to and from the airport, no matter the time of their flight.
Istanbul city taxis are readily available outside the arrival and departure areas of the airport. A taxi ride to the city centre takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic. It is important to note that food and drink prices at Turkish airports tend to be very high, with prices reported to be 40% higher than at Frankfurt Airport and twice as high as at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Istanbul Airport is located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, on the European side of the city. It is about 40 kilometres from Taksim, 52 kilometres from Kadıköy, and 50 kilometres from Sultanahmet, the heart of historic Istanbul. The airport is also accessible by car via the O-7 motorway and/or D.020 highway.
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The airport has advanced security and air traffic control systems
Istanbul Airport is a major transportation hub connecting three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. The airport, which opened in 2018, has an annual passenger capacity of 90 million and is expected to host more than 200 million passengers by 2025. It is currently the busiest airport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world.
The airport features advanced security and air traffic control systems to ensure safe and efficient operations. The security of the airport is maintained by a combination of physical security measures and technology. The site's perimeter is protected using ground radar, fixed CCTV cameras positioned every 60 meters, pan-tilt-zoom cameras every 360 meters, thermal cameras, and fiber optic sensors every 720 meters. Additionally, the active terminal building utilizes up to 9,000 CCTV cameras to monitor foot traffic within the facility. A total of 3,500 security personnel and 1,850 police officers, including 750 immigration officers, are responsible for maintaining security and public safety at the airport.
The air traffic control system at Istanbul Airport is highly advanced and complex. It includes state-of-the-art radars, sensitive navigation aids, and robust air traffic control protocols. This technology enables simultaneous operations on three runways, allowing three aircraft to independently land and take off at the same time. This capability is a "historic" achievement, as described by top officials, and marks a significant step forward for domestic aviation in Turkey and European aviation as a whole.
The advanced air traffic control system provides several benefits, including uninterrupted air and ground traffic management. It incorporates automatic structures that help predict flight routes and flows, enhancing efficiency and safety. This technology also plays a crucial role in preventing runway incursions and facilitating smooth traffic management. The implementation of this complex system underscores the airport's commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology to ensure the safe and efficient handling of the increasing air traffic volume.
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The airport is environmentally-friendly and has LEED Gold certification
Istanbul Airport, located in Arnavutköy, on the European side of the city, is considered a huge achievement of the Turkish Government. The airport, which opened in 2018, is the busiest airport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world. It has been designed as an environmentally-friendly airport, with a focus on sustainability.
The airport has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This certification recognises the sustainability efforts that went into designing and constructing the airport's terminal, which is now the largest LEED-certified building in the world. The LEED certification process evaluates buildings under various categories, including sustainable land, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design, and regional priority credits.
Istanbul Airport has implemented several environmentally-friendly practices to achieve this certification. For example, the airport uses low water-consuming faucets and toilet tanks, as well as greywater in water tanks, reducing the building's water consumption by over 50%. The airport also uses energy-efficient mechanical equipment, lighting fixtures, and façade design, resulting in a more than 22% reduction in energy consumption compared to internationally recognised standards.
In addition, the airport has adopted a "zero-waste" approach, with a focus on sustainability in all activities. Most of the waste generated during construction was sent for recycling or reuse, and the indoor building chemicals used are in line with international human health limits. The airport also features an energy-efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation system, further contributing to its sustainability efforts.
The achievement of LEED Gold certification demonstrates Istanbul Airport's commitment to environmental sustainability and its ability to balance modern aviation infrastructure with eco-friendly practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is an airport in Istanbul. The new Istanbul International Airport (IST) opened on 29 October 2018 and is located in the Çatalca-Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, on the European side of the city.
You can get to the city centre from Istanbul Airport by taxi, bus, or train. The M11 metro line opened in January 2023, and an extension to Halkalı is under construction. The airport is also served by public IETT and Havaist buses, and taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the arrival and departure areas.
Istanbul Airport has a duty-free area, several piers and boarding areas for domestic and international flights, and various parking facilities. The airport also has lounges, clubs, and a mosque.











































