Ruth Haines
Istanbul Airport (IST) is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. It is the larger of two international airports serving the city, the other being Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, located on the Asian side. The new airport is situated north of central Istanbul, between the Black Sea coast towns of Yeniköy, Tayakadın, and Akpınar. The construction of Istanbul Airport began in 2009, and it officially opened in October 2018, with all commercial flights transferred from the former Atatürk Airport by April 2019.
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What You'll Learn
Istanbul Airport is located in the Arnavutköy district
The new airport was constructed at the intersection of roads leading to Arnavutköy, Göktürk, and Çatalca. It is approximately 35 kilometres from the Atatürk Airport, which previously served as Istanbul's primary airport. The new Istanbul Airport officially began operations in October 2018, with the first flight taking place that month. However, it was not until April 2019 that all scheduled commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport.
Istanbul Airport is the largest airport in Turkey and one of the busiest airports in the world. It has the capacity to handle 200 million passengers annually and features a massive duty-free shopping area. The airport has received accolades, including being named "The Best Airport in the World" by Travel & Leisure readers and receiving a 5-star rating from Skytrax.
The airport's development has faced some criticism and challenges. There have been concerns about its location, with aviation experts warning about the unstable ground, local bird populations, and changeable weather conditions impacting air traffic safety. Additionally, there have been reports of poor working conditions and mass worker protests during the construction phase. Despite these controversies, Istanbul Airport is a significant hub for Turkish Airlines and plays a crucial role in the region's development.
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It is on the European side of the city
Istanbul Airport is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city. It is the largest airport in Turkey, the largest privately-owned airport in the world, and the second busiest airport in Europe and the Middle East. The airport is situated north of central Istanbul, between the Black Sea coast towns of Yeniköy, Tayakadın, and Akpınar. The area covers 7,600 hectares and includes old open-pit coal mines that have been filled with soil.
The construction of Istanbul Airport involved cutting down a significant number of trees, with the Environmental Impact Assessment (ÇED) report indicating that out of 2,513,341 trees in the area, 657,950 would need to be cut down, and 1,855,391 would be relocated. The airport's location has been criticized due to its distance from the city, with some travellers expressing concern about the longer travel time compared to the previous Atatürk Airport.
Istanbul Airport features a vast duty-free area, an onsite Yotel, and various services such as hospitals, lounges, prayer rooms, convention centres, and hotels. The airport is designed to handle a high volume of passengers, with a capacity of 200 million passengers annually. It serves up to 122 countries and is the hub for Turkish Airlines.
The airport has received recognition for its dining options, receiving the 2024 Best Airport Dining award from Skytrax. Additionally, Istanbul Airport has been voted "The Best Airport in the World" by Travel & Leisure readers and has attained a 5-star rating from Skytrax.
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The airport is 35km from Atatürk Airport
Istanbul Airport is located 35km from Atatürk Airport. It is situated in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city. The airport is one of the two international airports serving Istanbul, Turkey, and is the largest airport in the country.
The new airport is located at the intersection of roads to Arnavutköy, Göktürk, and Çatalca, north of central Istanbul. It is set in a 7,600-hectare region near Lake Terkos, encompassing old open-pit coal mines and forests. The construction of the airport involved significant deforestation, with hundreds of thousands of trees being cut down or relocated.
Istanbul Airport is a major transportation hub, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has become a popular aviation centre, serving more than 76 million passengers in 2023. The airport features a large terminal building with five piers, four of which serve international boarding gates, and the fifth, along with three boarding areas of Pier F, serving domestic destinations.
The airport offers a range of services and facilities, including hospitals, lounges, prayer rooms, convention centres, and hotels. It has received recognition for its dining options, being named the winner of the Best Airport Dining category at the Skytrax Awards in 2024. Additionally, the airport provides comfortable accommodation and exclusive travel experiences for its passengers.
Istanbul Airport officially began operations in October 2018, and all passenger flights from Atatürk Airport were transferred to the new airport by April 2019. The new airport inherited the IATA code IST from Atatürk Airport, which ceased operations regarding passenger flights. Atatürk Airport still handles cargo and general aviation services and is planned to be transformed into a giant park as part of an urban transformation initiative.
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It is north of central Istanbul, near Lake Terkos
Istanbul Airport is located north of central Istanbul, near Lake Terkos. The airport is situated in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city. The decision to construct the airport in this location was influenced by its proximity to major roads and its position between several Black Sea coast towns. Specifically, the intersection of roads to Arnavutköy, Göktürk, and Çatalca was chosen for the airport's construction.
The area encompassing the airport covers 7,600 hectares, including a significant portion of state-owned forest. The construction of the airport involved the filling of old open-pit coal mines and the relocation of a large number of trees. The Environmental Impact Assessment (ÇED) report published in April 2013 highlighted the presence of 2,513,341 trees in the area, with 657,950 marked for removal and 1,855,391 planned to be moved to new locations.
The location of Istanbul Airport, which is farther from the city centre than the previous Atatürk Airport, has been a source of criticism. Some travellers have expressed concerns about the increased travel time to reach the airport, especially in the absence of a metro connection. Additionally, there have been concerns raised about the ecological impact of the airport's construction, including the loss of trees and the potential risks associated with the local bird population and changeable weather conditions near the Black Sea.
Despite these concerns, Istanbul Airport has become a major aviation hub, serving more than 76 million passengers in 2023 and offering connections to up to 122 countries. The airport features a large and modern terminal with separate levels for departures and arrivals, as well as a vast duty-free shopping area. Istanbul Airport is also known for its exclusive services, such as therapy dogs to reduce flight stress and comfortable accommodation options inside the airport.
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It is one of two international airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport is one of two international airports in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city, 40km from Taksim and 52km from Kadıköy. It is the largest airport in Turkey and the largest privately-owned airport in the world. The airport is expected to host more than 200 million passengers by 2025.
The new Istanbul Airport is a modern aviation hub, providing its passengers with all the anticipated services and amenities. The airport currently has one terminal in service for domestic and international flights and five runways (three main and two backups) that are currently in operation. The terminal has two areas: Departures and Arrivals. It has five piers, out of which four serve international boarding gates, and the fifth, along with three boarding areas of Pier F, serve domestic destinations.
Istanbul's other airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, is located on the Asian side of the city. It was named after Sabiha Gökçen, the first woman pilot of Turkey and the first woman combat pilot in the world during the late 1930s. Sabiha Gökçen was also one of the stepdaughters of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, after whom the city's first international airport was named.
Istanbul Airport officially began operations in October 2018, and all scheduled commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport on 6 April 2019, following the closure of Atatürk Airport for scheduled passenger flights.
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Frequently asked questions
The new Istanbul Airport is located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of the city.
The IATA code for the new Istanbul Airport is IST.
The distance between the new Istanbul Airport and the old Atatürk Airport is approximately 35 km (22 mi).
The new Istanbul Airport features hospitals, lounges, prayer rooms, convention centers, hotels, and the world's largest thematic aquarium.
The new Istanbul Airport officially opened in October 2018, with the first flight taking place that month.
