World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Istanbul Atatrk International Airport (IST)
Tel: (0212) 663 6400. Fax: (0212) 663 6250.
Website: www.ataturkairport.com

The rebuilt, state-of-the-art Atatrk International Airport opened in 2000, and is located 23km (15 miles) west of central Istanbul, in Yesilky. As Turkey’s largest airport, it is the main international gateway to the country, with a capacity of 14 million passengers a year, increasing to 20 million after completion of the extension.

Sabiha Gksen International Airport in Pendik, Kurtky, opened in early 2001 and has relieved some of the overload at Atatrk Airport, with a small number of charter flights to central Asia, as well as cargo and military planes (see below).

Airport facilities: Facilities include two health clinics with 24-hour service, quarantine and environmental health services, pharmacies, lost and found, banks, post office, baggage service, restaurants, snack bars, tourist information, shops, duty free, hotel reservation, travel agencies, bureaux de change, ATMs and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and lger. Business facilities are available.

Transport to the city: The Havas service bus (tel: (0212) 663 0609) to Aksaray and Taksim Square departs from the international and domestic terminals every 30 minutes, 0600-2400 (journey time – 30 minutes). Buses also travel to the Akmerkez shopping centre in Etiler every hour, 0700-2100. Taxis are a little quicker but more expensive. There are now fixed price airport taxis outside arrivals, which accept US$. The new Metro system has regular trains between the airport and Esenler, the main bus station, 0600-2400.

Sabiha Gken International Airport (SAW)
Tel: (0216) 585 5000.
Website: www.sgairport.com

The airport is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, 50km (30 miles) east of Taksim, the European centre of Istanbul, 1.5km (1 mile) from the TEM motorway, and 4km (2.5 miles) from Pendik sea bus jetty and train station. This new airport, opened in 2001 and named after a Turkish female combat pilot, has two terminals and its few charter flights mainly serve Germany, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Airport facilities: These include information and help desks, ATMs, a bank, post office, duty-free shops, gift shops, bookshops, restaurants, cafs, a VIP lounge, conference and business facilities and parking. Car hire is provided by AtesTur Rent A Car (tel: (0216) 585 5705; website: www.atestur.com), located in the international terminal (arrivals), just after the baggage reclaim area.

Transport to the city: Buses coincide with flight times, with services to and from Kadikoy, Bostanci and Kucukyali on the Asian side, from where you can pick up other transport. Taxis are available 24 hours a day.

Approximate flight times to Istanbul: From London is 3 hours 30 minutes; from New York is 9 hours; from Los Angeles is 13 hours; from Toronto is 10 hours and 30 minutes and from Sydney is 22 hours.