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/24.8 miles from Taksim and 52km/32.3 miles 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.
Airport Name: Istanbul International Airport
IATA Code: IST
ICAO: LTFM
Location: Arnavutköy, Istanbul Turkey
Time Zone: TRT Turkey Time (UTC+3)
Airport Map: Istanbul Airport at Google Maps
Istanbul Airport’s Layout
For the moment, Istanbul International Airport has only one terminal building, but it is the biggest terminal building under one roof worldwide. The impressive terminal is considered an actual masterpiece, 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. Once the airport is entirely completed, it is expected to consist of 4 terminal buildings.
Although Istanbul airport’s one and only terminal is, without a doubt, impressive, it features one main disadvantage: it has only one security control area for domestic flights and another one for flights to international destinations. This fact, added to the enormous size of the terminal, makes the airport procedures tedious and time-consuming. What’s more, the distances from the IST terminal’s central area to the boarding areas are considerable.
IST Airlines
The new and impressive Istanbul International Airport serves flights from and to over 350 destinations. Verily, it is well-connected to a number of cities in Turkey as well as to international and even intercontinental destinations. Thus, it is hardly surprising that it houses a wide array of airlines, from local and low-cost air carriers to international or conventional providers. As a matter of fact, Istanbul Airport is the hub for the flag carrier of Turkey. Hence, Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo use the airport as a base for operations.
Parking Facilities
The parking facilities of Istanbul International Airport are spread over 5 blocks. Therefore, it is undoubted that IST Airport can fully accommodate its passengers’ parking needs as it is equipped with 40000 parking spots in total. Hence, the Green Car Park, the Yellow Car Park, the Blue Car Park, the Red Car Park, and the Turquoise Car Park are to be found inside the airport premises, fairly close to the terminal building. All the parking lots can be used for short-term parking and for longer stays as well.
Transit Options
Passengers find various transit options for their journey from IST Airport to their final destination. As a matter of fact, travelers who want to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center can choose one of the following options for their transit:
Services and Amenities
The brand-new Istanbul Airport is a modern aviation hub, providing its passengers with all the anticipated services and amenities. In detail, some of the main services available at IST Airport are:
- Numerous retail stores and extensive duty-free area
- Restaurants / Bars
- Baggage wrapping / Luggage storage
- Pharmacies /Medical services
- Banks / ATMs / Currency exchange areas
- Family services / Playground
- Lost & Found offices
- Prayer rooms
- Art galleries
- Business Center
- Lounges / Spa facilities
- Airport hotel
- Pet rooms / Pet relief areas
- Wi-Fi
- Travel agencies and tour operators
- Information kiosks
- Special services and amenities for passengers with disabilities
Contact Info
Official Name: Istanbul Airport
Address: Tayakadın Mahallesi, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul
Phone Number: 444 1 442
Email: ist@igairport.aero
The City of Istanbul
Istanbul is a colorful blend of two diametrically opposite worldviews (the East and the West), actually standing at the borders of Europe and Asia. With its Byzantine and Ottoman legacy visible everywhere in the city, Istanbul’s attractions have a unique vibe. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, and the Galata Tower usually leave their visitors mesmerized after their visit. On the other hand, the “shop till you drop” mentality is always welcomed in Istanbul, where apart from the numerous retail stores, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar initiate travelers to the eastern market’s philosophy. Moreover, the city is surrounded by the beautiful Bosphorus. Verily, Bosphorus cruises are regarded as one of the top experiences in Istanbul. At the same time, amid its traditional character, Istanbul is a modern city with vibrant nightlife and a fusion gastronomic scene.
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$). The new Metro Line M11 also serves 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.