Istanbul International Airport (IST)

The World’s Biggest Airport, Istanbul Airport, Takes off

Istanbul Airport is the new airport in the city and is considered a huge achievement of the Turkish Government. Added to the two already existing airports of Istanbul (Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport), the new aviation hub has undertaken all the Ataturk Airport’s passenger flights from 10/29/18 and is expected to host more than 200 million passengers by 2025.

Istanbul Airport is located in the Çatalca- Göktürk-Arnavutköy area, on the European side of the city, 40km from Taksim and 52km from Kadıköy. Set in the middle between Tayakadin and Akpinar village, it serves more than 350 domestic and international destinations in 110 countries, while its duty-free area is one of the largest (if not the largest) worldwide. For the time being, only one terminal is functional, four runways (out of the 6 in total when the project will be utterly completed) are in operation, and five concourses are home to the numerous airlines that fly from and to the airport. Last but not least, the services and facilities provided at the airport are one-of-a-kind, and of course, cutting-edge technology is applied all over the environmentally-friendly airport.

All in all, Istanbul Airport, fully functional from 04/06/19 despite the construction not being finished yet, has already become a major transportation hub connecting three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and will be developed into an even more significant aviation center as time goes by.

FAQs

Has the new Istanbul Airport opened?

Istanbul Airport was officially inaugurated on 10/29/18, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic. The first flight took off on 10/31/18, while from 04/06/19, all the passenger flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport moved to the new airport. Despite not reaching its full capacity, Istanbul Airport is already fully operational.

Is Istanbul Ataturk Airport closing?

Istanbul Ataturk Airport ceased operations regarding passenger flights which are now served by Istanbul Airport. The new airport has also inherited Ataturk’s IATA Code (IST). Nevertheless, Ataturk Airport is still being used for cargo and general aviation and provides maintenance services.

Which is the main airport in Istanbul?

The brand new Istanbul Airport (IST, IGA) is the main airport in the city. Located on the European side of Istanbul, in the Arnavutköy area, Istanbul Airport has undertaken all the passenger flights from Ataturk Airport which now provides only cargo and general aviation services. The second, “minor” airport of the city, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, is located on the Asian side.

What are the transportation options from Istanbul Airport?

The impressive new Istanbul Airport has a competent transportation system which in its final form will provide safe, multimodal transfer options to Istanbul city center. For the moment, Istanbul airport buses run from and to the airport with a ticket ranging from 15.33​₺-85₺ (0.84€-4.66€/080.$-4.60$) while Istanbul airport taxis are available around the clock reaching the city center in about 50 minutes with an average tariff of 310₺ (17€/16.90$). Eventually, the new metro line M11 will also serve Istanbul Airport while a high-speed train is going to connect the new landing field to the “old” Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

How many terminals does Istanbul Airport have?

Currently, Istanbul Airport has only one main terminal. However, in the long term, three more terminals, possibly smaller, are planned to be added to the airport complex.

Is Istanbul new airport the biggest in the world?

The new Istanbul Airport is operational over one year, having served more than 40 million passengers. In its final phase, approximately by 2025, the airport will be able to handle up to 200 million passengers annually, becoming the biggest airport worldwide in terms of passenger traffic.