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Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Turkey's first airport, ceased commercial operations in April 2019, with all flights being transferred to the new Istanbul Airport. Ataturk Airport is now open only for maintenance, general aviation, private and business jets, and state and diplomatic aircraft. The airport's closure has been a controversial topic, with opposition parties protesting the government's plans to demolish the site and build a large city park, known as the Atatürk Airport National Garden. The park is intended to address the lack of green spaces in the city, but critics argue that the government's plans will benefit businesses and Middle Eastern companies looking to buy the land. Despite the controversy, the airport has been damaged during construction, and its future remains uncertain.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current status | Closed to commercial flights |
| Current uses | Maintenance, general aviation, air taxis, business flights, state and diplomatic aircraft |
| Future plans | A giant park, named Atatürk Airport National Garden |
| Runway status | Rendered unusable, chosen as the site for Istanbul's pandemic hospital |
| Current flights | Private and business jets, and operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey |
| Cargo operations | Relocated to the new Istanbul Airport as of February 2022 |
| Former status | Primary international airport of Istanbul, hub of Turkish Airlines |
| Former ranking | 11th busiest airport in the world in 2015 in terms of total passenger traffic |
| New airport status | Fully opened in April 2019 |
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What You'll Learn
Atatürk Airport is closed to commercial flights
Atatürk Airport, formerly the primary international airport of Istanbul, closed to commercial passenger flights on the 6th of April 2019. From that point onwards, all passenger flights were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport, located on the European side of the city. The closure of Atatürk Airport to commercial flights was due to the need to meet Istanbul's growing domestic and international air traffic demand.
Despite the closure of Atatürk Airport to commercial flights, it remains an important aviation hub in Turkey. The airport is currently in use for private jets, business jets, and government planes. It has also become the city's cargo hub, serving dozens of destinations worldwide. In addition, two of the runways have been kept for general aviation, and a single terminal area remains open for private jet traffic.
There are also plans to repurpose the airport for other uses. One proposal is to build a landmark park, known as the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on and around one of the two runways of the airport. This park is intended to address the lack of green spaces in the city and is part of a larger urban transformation plan. Opposition parties, however, have criticized this plan, arguing that the government aims to benefit businesses and Middle Eastern companies that want to buy the land and build on it.
Another proposal is to convert part of the terminal building into a "university of aviation," where various aspects of aviation, such as flying, maintenance, flight attendance, traffic control, and engineering, would be taught. Additionally, hangers have been opened for maintenance and support for private and commercial airlines, and several facilities may be turned over to the military for training and active Air Force use.
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The airport will be replaced by a park
The Atatürk Airport, formerly known as Istanbul Atatürk Airport, will be replaced by a park. The airport was once the primary international airport of Istanbul and the hub of Turkish Airlines. However, in April 2019, all commercial passenger flights were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport, which is now the city's main airport.
The new Istanbul Airport was constructed to meet the growing domestic and international air traffic demand in Istanbul. The old Atatürk Airport has since been open only for maintenance, general aviation, air taxis, business flights, and state and diplomatic aircraft. The airport was closed to cargo flights in February 2022, with all cargo operations relocated to the new Istanbul Airport.
Despite the relocation of commercial passenger flights, the old Atatürk Airport remains significant for Turkish aviation. It serves as a hub for private and business jets, as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey. Turkish Airlines and low-cost carrier Onur Air have retained their headquarters at the airport, even after the move to the new location.
The Turkish government announced plans to construct a giant park, named the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on the grounds of the former airport. This park is intended to be part of a larger urban transformation plan aimed at improving the haphazard urban planning that has characterized many Turkish cities in recent decades. The construction of the park will involve planting more than 132,500 trees, replacing the asphalt runway and taxiways, with the goal of helping to keep the city cooler.
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The new Istanbul Airport is now the city's main airport
The new Istanbul Airport, which opened in April 2019, is now the city's main airport. The new airport was constructed to meet Istanbul's growing domestic and international air traffic demand as a source, destination, and transit point. It has inherited the 'IST' designation from Atatürk Airport, which has been redesignated as 'ISL'.
With the opening of the new airport, all commercial passenger flights stopped operating from Ataturk Airport. However, Ataturk Airport is still an important component in Turkish aviation. It currently serves only private and business jets, as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey. It has become the city's cargo hub, with Turkish Airlines Cargo serving dozens of destinations worldwide. Other cargo carriers with a presence at Ataturk include EgyptAir Cargo, FedEx, Hong Kong Air Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, MNG Airlines, Qatar Airways Cargo, and Silk Way Airlines.
Ataturk Airport is also used for general aviation, aircraft maintenance, and VIP flights. Two of its runways have been kept for this purpose, and a single terminal area remains open for private jet traffic. Part of the terminal building may be turned over to a 'university of aviation', teaching everything related to flying, maintenance, flight attendance, traffic control, and engineering. Hangers will be opened for maintenance and support for private and commercial airlines.
There are plans to demolish the rest of Ataturk Airport and construct a giant park, called the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on its grounds. This park is intended to be part of a larger urban transformation plan to correct haphazard urban planning in Turkish cities. Opposition parties have criticized the plan, arguing that the airport could still operate as a flight hub and that the government aims to benefit businesses and Middle Eastern companies that want to buy the land and build on it.
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The airport is still used for private and business jets
The Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, was replaced by the newly constructed Istanbul Airport in 2019 as the city's primary international airport. Since then, the Ataturk Airport has been used for private and business jets, as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey.
The airport, which was once among the world's busiest in terms of international passenger traffic, has seen a sharp decline in passenger numbers following the opening of the new Istanbul Airport. Despite this, the Ataturk Airport remains an important component in Turkish aviation, serving as a hub for cargo operations and private aviation.
Turkish Airlines and low-cost carrier Onur Air have maintained their headquarters at the airport, even after the relocation of passenger services to the new airport. The airport's facilities are also being utilised for general aviation, aircraft maintenance, and VIP flights using business jets and government planes.
The Ataturk Airport has a rich history, having operated with different names and in different capacities since 1912. It was the nation's first airport and has played a significant role in the development of aviation in Turkey. With its replacement by the new Istanbul Airport, the Ataturk Airport is now being repurposed to meet the changing needs of the aviation industry and the city of Istanbul.
The airport's future remains a subject of discussion, with plans announced by the Turkish government in 2019 to construct a giant park, the Ataturk Airport National Garden, on the grounds of the former airport. Opposition parties have protested these plans, arguing that the demolition of the airport is unnecessary and that the government aims to benefit businesses and Middle Eastern companies interested in the land. Despite the controversy, the airport has already undergone significant changes, with construction taking place and damage visible on the runways.
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The airport is still an important component in Turkish aviation
The Atatürk Airport, located in the south of Istanbul, was closed to commercial flights after the opening of the new Istanbul Airport in 2019. The new airport was constructed to meet the growing demand for domestic and international air traffic in Istanbul. Despite the closure of Atatürk Airport for commercial flights, it remains an important component of Turkish aviation.
Atatürk Airport has become the city's cargo hub, with Turkish Airlines Cargo serving numerous destinations worldwide. Several other cargo carriers, such as EgyptAir Cargo, FedEx, and Qatar Airways Cargo, also have a presence at the airport. In addition to cargo operations, the airport continues to serve private and business jets, as well as government flights. It has also been reported that two of the runways will be retained for general aviation, and a terminal area may remain open for private jet traffic.
The airport's facilities are also being utilised for aircraft maintenance, with hangers available for the support of private and commercial airlines. Turkish Airlines and Onur Air have maintained their headquarters at Atatürk Airport, demonstrating its ongoing significance for these carriers. Furthermore, there are plans to establish a 'university of aviation' at the site, which would provide education and training in various aviation-related fields.
The airport's closure to commercial flights and the subsequent construction of a park have been met with opposition. Critics argue that the airport could still operate as a flight hub alongside the new Istanbul Airport. They also claim that the demolition of the airport serves the interests of businesses and Middle Eastern companies looking to acquire the land. Despite these objections, the Turkish government has proceeded with its plans for the site, including the development of the Atatürk Airport National Garden, which aims to address the lack of green spaces in the city.
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Frequently asked questions
Atatürk Airport is currently only open for maintenance, general aviation, air taxis, business flights, and state and diplomatic aircraft.
The airport was replaced by the new Istanbul Airport in 2019 due to increasing demand for air traffic in the city.
There are plans to demolish the airport and construct a giant park, the Atatürk Airport National Garden, on its grounds. However, this decision has faced opposition from some groups.
