Istanbul transportation: airports

This time we will tell you about two major airports in the city: Istanbul International Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). They served almost 81 million passengers in the first 8 months of 2024.

Istanbul Airport (IST)

• Istanbul's new airport opened in 2018.
• It is among the top 3 largest airports in the world with 76.5 square kilometers.
• Serves millions of passengers every year and has a huge number of routes around the world.
• It is home to numerous stores, restaurants and services that make waiting for a flight comfortable.
• Located in the European part of Istanbul on the Black Sea coast, 35 kilometers from the city center.
• The city center can be reached in half an hour via the M11 metro line.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located in the European part of Istanbul. Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)

• Named after the first female pilot in Turkey, it serves both domestic and international flights.
• Located in the Asian part of the city, 35 kilometers southeast of the city center.
• More compact compared to IST, but also offers many amenities for travelers.
• SAW is often used by low-cost airlines such as Pegasus and AnadoluJet.
• It can be reached by metro via the M4 line.

The old Ataturk Airport. Ataturk Airport is closed and a park is planned to be built there.