Translate
Istanbul's vast new gateway bridging Europe and Asia.
Opened
2018
Location
Istanbul, Turkey
İstanbul Airport (IST) is the primary international airport serving Istanbul, Turkey, and one of the largest airports in the world by design capacity. Opened in 2018, it replaced Atatürk Airport as Istanbul's main hub and is operated by İGA Airports Operation under a build-operate-transfer agreement with the Turkish government.
The airport is located on the European side of Istanbul in the Arnavutköy district, approximately 35–40 kilometers northwest of the city center. Its first phase was inaugurated in October 2018, with Turkish Airlines completing its full migration from Atatürk in April 2019.
İstanbul Airport serves as the primary hub for Turkish Airlines, one of the world's largest carriers by number of destinations. When fully complete, the airport is planned to have a capacity of up to 200 million passengers annually, making it one of the highest-capacity airports ever conceived.
Terminals
The airport currently operates a single large integrated terminal building, with additional terminals and concourses planned in subsequent construction phases.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options include the M11 metro line connecting the airport to Gayrettepe in the city center, as well as taxis, ride-hailing services, and the Havaist airport bus network.
Airlines here
Turkish Airlines uses İstanbul Airport as its primary global hub, with numerous other international carriers also operating scheduled services here.
Notable facts
- ›Designed to ultimately handle up to 200 million passengers per year across multiple construction phases.
- ›Turkish Airlines fully migrated from Atatürk Airport to İstanbul Airport in April 2019 in a single overnight operation.
- ›The airport covers an area of approximately 76.5 square kilometers, making it one of the largest airport complexes in the world.
- ›It was built under a 25-year build-operate-transfer concession awarded to the İGA consortium in 2013.
- ›The airport features one of the world's largest duty-free shopping areas, spanning over 53,000 square meters.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
