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Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, which was once one of the world's busiest airports, has been replaced by the new Istanbul Airport as the city's main airport. The final commercial flight from Ataturk Airport took off in April 2019, and since then, there have been plans to demolish the old airport and redevelop the site. While the government has proposed building a large city park, opposition parties have criticised the plan, arguing that the demolition is unnecessary and a cover for selling the land to businesses and Middle Eastern companies. Despite the controversy, construction on the park began in 2022, and the first areas were opened to the public in 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commercial passenger flights | Stopped operating from Ataturk Airport in 2019 |
| New Istanbul Airport | Fully opened in April 2019 |
| IATA codes | Istanbul Airport: IST, Ataturk Airport: ISL |
| Cargo flights | All cargo flights and operations moved to the new Istanbul Airport in February 2022 |
| Demolition plans | Opposition parties claim that President Erdogan plans to build a landmark park on the site |
| Park construction | Construction began in 2022, with the first areas opened to the public in 2023 |
| Terminals | Two passenger terminals, one domestic and one international |
| Runways | Two 3,000-meter runways will be kept, with the possibility of retaining a third |
| Future plans | Proposals include an aviation university, a general aviation center, and continued use for private jet traffic |
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What You'll Learn
Istanbul Airport replaced Atatürk Airport
Istanbul Atatürk Airport was once one of the world's busiest airports in terms of international passenger traffic. However, with the opening of the new Istanbul Airport in April 2019, commercial passenger flights ceased operations at Atatürk Airport. The new airport was constructed to meet Istanbul's growing domestic and international air traffic demand.
Istanbul Atatürk Airport has a long history, dating back to 1912 when it operated under different names and in different capacities. In the 1980s, it was renamed Atatürk International Airport and went on to serve more than 60 million passengers in 2015, ranking as Europe's fifth-busiest airport. Despite its success, the airport struggled to keep up with the increasing demand for air travel in Istanbul.
The new Istanbul Airport, a project of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, became the city's main airport upon its completion. It inherited Atatürk Airport's IATA code 'IST', while the older airport was redesignated as 'ISL'. While passenger operations have shifted entirely to the new airport, Atatürk Airport remains a significant hub for cargo operations, serving as the cargo hub for Turkish Airlines Cargo and other cargo carriers.
There are various plans for the redevelopment of Atatürk Airport. One proposal is to construct the Atatürk Airport National Garden on and around one of its runways, with more than 132,500 trees planted to help keep the city cooler. The other runway is set to remain in use for select cargo and private jet flights, aviation fairs, and the Turkish Air Force. Additionally, there are plans to convert part of the terminal building into an aviation university, teaching various aviation-related courses.
The redevelopment of Atatürk Airport has faced opposition from some groups, who argue that the airport could still operate as a flight hub alongside the new Istanbul Airport. They claim that the demolition of Atatürk Airport is a cover for selling the land to businesses and Middle Eastern companies. Despite the opposition, the Turkish government has proceeded with its plans for the site, including the construction of a giant park as part of an urban transformation plan for the city.
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Opposition to demolition
Opposition parties in Turkey have protested against the demolition of Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, which was the nation's first airport and has been operating since 1912. The airport was replaced by the new Istanbul Airport in 2019, which became the city's main airport for commercial passenger flights. However, opposition parties argue that Ataturk Airport could still operate as a flight hub alongside the new airport.
The opposition has criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's plan to build a landmark park, called the "nation's garden", on the site of the demolished airport. They claim that the government aims to sell the land to Middle Eastern companies, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for development. In response to these allegations, a senior official from Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) denied that the airport would be completely demolished and stated that at least one of the runways would be preserved for flights.
The opposition has held protests outside the airport, with the Republican People's Party (CHP) and its ally, the nationalist İyi (Good) Party, participating. The youth branch of the Good Party stated that the demolition is an "agony" of the government, reflecting discomfort with even the name of Ataturk. CHP leader Kaftancioglu criticized the investment of 250 billion euros in the new airport, claiming that it is half-completed and unnecessary.
In addition to the political opposition, experts have also objected to the construction of the new Istanbul Airport. They argue that its location is poor due to its proximity to the Black Sea, which results in strong winds that can disrupt the flight schedule. The new airport also lacks a direct train or subway connection to the city, unlike Ataturk Airport.
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A park will be built on the site
Plans to demolish Istanbul's Ataturk Airport have faced opposition from parties like the Good Party and the Republican People's Party (CHP). They argue that the demolition is a cover for a sell-off to Middle Eastern companies and that the airport could still operate as a flight hub. Despite this, the airport's operations have been transferred to the new Istanbul Airport, which opened in April 2019.
The construction of the park began in 2022, and the first areas were opened to the public in 2023. However, in 2024, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality filed a lawsuit, leading the Council of State to cancel the construction tender.
In addition to the park, there are plans to use parts of the airport for aviation purposes, with two runways and hangars being retained. A portion of the terminal building may be converted into an aviation university, catering to students worldwide.
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Ataturk Airport's IATA code changed
Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, which was once the nation's first airport, has been replaced by the newly constructed Istanbul Airport. The new airport opened for commercial passenger flights in 2019 and has since become the city's main airport.
The IATA code for Ataturk Airport changed from 'IST' to 'ISL' after the transfer of all scheduled passenger activities to the new Istanbul Airport. The final commercial flight from Ataturk Airport departed on 6 April 2019, and since then, the airport has been open to general aviation and functions as an executive airport for private jets.
The change in the IATA code reflects the shift in the primary international airport of Istanbul from Ataturk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport. The new airport inherited the 'IST' designation, while Ataturk Airport was assigned the code 'ISL'. This change occurred simultaneously with the transfer of all passenger operations to the new airport, marking a significant milestone in the city's aviation history.
Ataturk Airport played a crucial role in Istanbul's aviation industry for many decades. It featured two passenger terminals, with the former domestic terminal handling domestic flights within Turkey and the former international terminal serving international destinations. The airport consistently ranked among the world's busiest airports in terms of international passenger traffic. However, with the opening of the new Istanbul Airport, Ataturk Airport could no longer keep up with the increasing demand for air traffic in the city.
The Turkish government announced plans to construct a giant park, known as the Ataturk Airport National Garden, on the grounds of the former airport. This decision is part of a larger urban transformation plan aimed at improving the city's green spaces and addressing issues with haphazard urban planning. Construction of the park commenced in 2022, and the first areas were opened to the public in 2023.
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The airport's history
Istanbul's Atatürk Airport has a long history, dating back to 1912, when it first began operating with different names and in different capacities. The airport has played a significant role in the city's aviation industry and has undergone several transformations over the years.
Originally named Yeşilköy Airport, the airport served as the nation's first airport and underwent expansion over time. A new passenger terminal was built, marking the beginning of its 86-year history. In the 1980s, the airport was renamed Atatürk International Airport, and it quickly became one of the busiest airports in the world. By 2015, it was ranked 11th globally in terms of total passenger traffic and 10th for international passenger traffic. It served more than 60 million passengers that year.
However, with the increasing demand for air travel in Istanbul, the airport struggled to keep up. The construction of the new Istanbul Airport nearby began to take shape, and in late 2018, both airports operated in parallel for five months. The new airport slowly expanded its services, taking over more and more destinations previously served by Atatürk Airport.
Finally, on April 6, 2019, the new Istanbul Airport took over all remaining commercial operations from Atatürk Airport. This marked a sharp decline in Atatürk Airport's significance, as it no longer served passenger flights. Despite this, the airport remained an important hub for cargo operations, with Turkish Airlines Cargo and other cargo carriers continuing to operate from the site.
Today, there are various plans for the former airport's site. One proposal is to construct a giant park, known as the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on and around one of the two runways. This park is intended to provide much-needed green space for the city and will include the planting of over 132,500 trees. Another idea is to repurpose part of the airport for general aviation, keeping two runways for private jet traffic and aviation fairs. Additionally, there are plans to convert a significant portion of the terminal buildings into an aviation university, providing education and training in various aviation-related fields.
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Frequently asked questions
Istanbul's Atatürk Airport was replaced by the newly constructed Istanbul Airport in April 2019. The final commercial flight from the airport took off on 6 April 2019.
Istanbul Atatürk Airport was replaced by the new Istanbul Airport to meet the growing domestic and international air traffic demand. By the mid-2010s, the airport was consistently ranked among the world's busiest airports in terms of international passenger traffic.
The Turkish government announced plans to construct a giant park on the grounds of the former airport. The park is named the Atatürk Airport National Garden and is part of a larger urban transformation plan to address haphazard urban planning in Turkish cities. However, the plan has faced opposition, with critics arguing that the government aims to benefit businesses and Middle Eastern companies that want to buy the land.
