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Airports in Istanbul - 3 Important Airports

March 8, 2024 561

If you're interested in learning about airports in Istanbul, this article is for you. We will discuss the airports located in the Turkish city of Istanbul, which has become one of the most important cities in the world in all aspects, whether economic, touristic, or otherwise. Therefore, it attracts many visitors from all over the world.

To be able to visit this beautiful city, you first need to familiarize yourself with the airports available and choose among them. In this article, we will mention the number of airports in Istanbul, in addition to providing a detailed explanation of each, including Istanbul International Airport, Sabiha Gokcen Airport, and Ataturk Airport. At the end of the article, we will answer some of the most common questions about the airports.

Skyline Holdings wishes you a useful and enjoyable reading.

How many airports are there in Istanbul?

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population and area. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait, which separates the continents of Asia and Europe, and it serves as a historical, cultural, and economic center of the country. Istanbul welcomes millions of visitors every year for tourism, work, or study purposes. For this reason, it needs modern and efficient airports to meet the needs of incoming and outgoing travelers. The city of Istanbul has three main international airports:

- Istanbul Airport.

- Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

- Ataturk Airport.

 

Check out: Investment in Turkey for Jordanians.

Istanbul International Airport

Istanbul International Airport is one of the most important airports in Istanbul and one of the largest airports in the world. This airport was opened in 2019 and is characterized by its strategic location and large area. Additionally, it offers many distinctive services for travelers.

Area of Istanbul Airport

The area of Istanbul Airport is 76 square kilometers, making it one of the largest airports in the world in terms of total area. It includes several facilities such as:

  • Passenger terminal: It houses 143 passenger bridges, 468 inspection points, 228 residence lounges, 51 business lounges, 55 visa lounges, and 22 passport lounges.
  • Four runways: The airport has four runways used for aircraft takeoff and landing.
  • Five terminals: Spread throughout the airport, used for sending and receiving passengers and labeled with letters A, B, D, F, and G.
  • Control towers: The airport has three control towers for air traffic control.
  • Transportation systems: Include a metro line connecting the airport to the city, bus services, and taxis.
  • Other facilities: Such as hotels, a mosque, a hospital, an aviation park, and other services.

Location of Istanbul Airport

The location of the new Istanbul Airport is strategic and geographically distinctive, located in the Arnavutkoy area on the European side of the city. The airport is about 40 kilometers away from the center of Istanbul and can be easily accessed via bus, taxi, and metro services. Moreover, it connects between the continents of Asia and Europe, serving millions of visitors who come to Istanbul for tourism, work, or study.

Services of Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is the newest and largest airport in Turkey and Europe, offering various advanced services for travelers and visitors, including:

  1. Free internet service via Wi-Fi: Guests can connect to the wireless internet network anywhere inside the airport after registering their phone number and receiving the activation code.
  2. Temporary luggage storage service: Guests can leave their luggage in secure lockers located in the arrivals and departures area.
  3. Fast car rental service: Guests can rent cars from various companies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, and others, after booking through the website, application, or offices located in the arrivals area.
  4. ATM and currency exchange service: The airport has several bank branches, ATMs, and currency exchange machines, providing various financial services in Turkish lira or foreign currencies.
  5. Massage and Turkish bath service: Guests can relax and rejuvenate in massage parlors and Turkish bathhouses located in the departures area.
  6. Business and meeting service: The airport has halls equipped with the latest technologies for holding meetings, events, and workshops, accommodating from 10 to 1000 people.
  7. Restaurant, café, and shop service: The airport features a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and shops offering various local and international foods, drinks, and goods, in addition to a duty-free shopping area.
  8. Mosque and prayer rooms service: The airport has a large mosque accommodating 6000 worshippers, in addition to 44 prayer rooms distributed throughout the airport, half for men and half for women, with ablution facilities.
  9. Health and ambulance service: The airport has a hospital, medical clinics, pharmacies, and emergency points providing urgent and non-urgent health services to guests.
  10. Kids' playrooms and entertainment service: The airport features dedicated areas for children with games, recreational, and educational activities, along with complimentary stroller services.

Sabıha Gökçen Airport

Sabıha Gökçen International Airport is the second international airport of Istanbul and is smaller than the new Istanbul Airport. It is named after the first Turkish woman to pilot a military aircraft. Construction of this airport began in 1998 and was completed in 2000.

The airport provides services for both domestic and international flights, welcoming around 30 million passengers annually. It serves as the headquarters for AnadoluJet, a local subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, with other airlines operating flights to and from Sabiha Airport, such as Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Fly Baghdad, and British Airways.

Area of Sabiha Airport:

The area of Sabiha Airport in Istanbul is 25,554 square meters, smaller than the new Istanbul Airport. The airport includes several facilities:

  • Two runways: the first for large aircraft takeoffs and landings, and the second for small and medium-sized aircraft.
  • Two terminals: used for passenger arrival and departure, divided into an international terminal and a domestic terminal.
  • Control towers: the airport has two air traffic control towers.
  • Transportation systems: including a metro line connecting the airport to the city, bus services, and taxis.
  • Other facilities: such as hotels, a mosque, beauty salons, and other services.

Location of Sabiha Airport:

Sabiha Airport has a strategic location suitable for travelers wishing to visit the Asian side of Istanbul. It is located in Pendik, about 35 kilometers from the center of Istanbul, easily accessible via bus, taxi, and metro services. The airport is connected to the European side of the city via the Osmangazi Bridge, a suspension bridge crossing the Bosphorus.

Services of Sabiha Airport:

Sabiha Airport offers good services and reasonable prices for travelers and visitors. Some of the services provided by the airport include:

  1. Free internet service via Wi-Fi.
  2. Temporary luggage storage service.
  3. Rapid car rental service.
  4. ATM and currency exchange service.
  5. Mosque and prayer rooms.

Ataturk Airport

Ataturk Airport is located on the European side of Istanbul and is one of Istanbul's important airports. However, this airport is no longer solely dedicated to air navigation as 70% of it has been converted into a park planted with 132,500 trees to become the fourth-largest park in the world. The reason for converting part of this airport into a park is the desire to increase green spaces in the city.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Istanbul Airport

In this paragraph, we will mention the most common questions about Istanbul airports, in addition to answering them with some important details.

How does the new Istanbul Airport differ from Sabiha Airport?

Istanbul Airport is located in the European part of Istanbul, while Sabiha Airport is located in the Asian part.

What is the main airport of Istanbul?

Ataturk Airport is the main airport of the city, as it includes passenger flights as well as cargo shipping. However, after the opening of the new Istanbul Airport, commercial passenger flights at Ataturk Airport ceased and were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport. Ataturk Airport is now dedicated only to cargo, maintenance, and business flights, with 70% of its area converted into a park.

Is there a metro line at the new Istanbul Airport?

Yes, there is a metro line at the new Istanbul Airport, it is metro line M11, which is one of the lines announced by President Erdogan within the city of Istanbul.

What is the maximum amount allowed to be carried at Istanbul airports?

Passengers at Istanbul airports are allowed to carry up to 30,000 Turkish liras or 10,000 euros, and not more than that.

 

In conclusion, in this article, we have discussed Istanbul airports and mentioned the most important details on the subject, starting with the number of airports in Istanbul, then mentioning all the important information about the new Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Airport, in addition to Ataturk Airport, and finally answering the most common questions about the subject.