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Update: as of 7 April 2019, the new Istanbul Airport (IST) is operational and the only airport on the European side of Istanbul for commercial passenger airlines! Here you can find information on how to reach your hotel from the new Istanbul Airport.
New Istanbul Airport is Istanbul’s third international airport. The grand ceremonial opening was on 29th October 2018, followed by the first take off on 1st November 2018. As of end December 2018, Turkish Airlines is the only airline serving from the New Istanbul Airport with only a handful international and domestic destinations.
Originally Istanbul Airport was announced to be fully operational by 1st January 2019, and Atatürk Airport was going to stop serving commercial flights. However, recently the authorities decided to postpone the transition for the second time already. This means Atatürk Airport is still the primary airport of Istanbul … for the time being.
When Will the Atatürk Airport Stop Serving?
On 18th December 2018 authorities agreed that an overnight relocation process could cause disruptions. So, as of 1 January 2019 flights and ground services will gradually move from Atatürk Airport, used by nearly 70 million passengers per year, to Istanbul Airport without compromising passenger comfort. After completing the first phase, the airport will have a capacity of serving 90 million passengers.
Originally, the move was planned to be completed by January 1, 2019. From the start this seemed to be a steep hill to climb, and sure enough shortly thereafter the date was postponed to March 3. However, at the end of February a new schedule was announced: the move will start on April 5 2019 at 03:00 and should be completed by midnight on April 7.
During the transition, the new Istanbul Airport will use the IATA code of ISL. Once the move has been completed, the IATA code IST will be transferred to the new airport.
Where is Istanbul Airport?
Istanbul Airport covers a land of 76.5 million square meters on the northern European side of the city, close to the Black Sea in the Arnavutköy district.
The airport is about 52 km away from the Sultanahmet Square. There is currently no metro or tramway line going to the airport from the city centre. The earliest projected launch date for the new metro line is the end of 2019. Until then IETT and Havaist bus lines are the only available public transportation options. Here’s more information on how to get from the new Istanbul Airport to Taksim or Sultanahmet.
Additionally, the company which was founded to construct and operate Istanbul Airport, Istanbul Grand Airport signed a contract with Istanbul Airport Taxi Association to provide taxis within strict regulations. The taxis will be inspected regularly and there will be a point system for the drivers. Should the drivers not follow the regulations, they will lose their permission to serve airport passengers.
UBER is not available since it is illegal in Turkey, but there are some other private companies which offer transportation services.
The Contentious Airport
Since the idea of the airport was first mentioned, the new airport has been in the line of fire. Its location was a matter of dispute as about 1 million trees had to be cut. Its safeness was criticized due to the abandoned coal mines underneath and the strong north winds of the area.
With a floor space of 1.3 million square meters its one block terminal building gathers international and domestic terminals under one roof. It is the biggest one building airport of the world. The airport will host flights to more than 300 destinations with an annual capacity of 200 million passengers once it is completed.
The airport is going to be a luxury extravaganza for the travelers with shops housing Louis Vuitton, Hermes and many more distinguished brands, VIP lounges and restaurants which will be hosting well-known chefs.
Kathleen S. Bonnie says
I have a friend who purchased a ticket i believe back in june of 2020 can he get a refund
Erlend says
Hi Kathleen,
Your friend should contact the airline or travel agency where he or she purchased the ticket.
Shifna says
Is it aiport working this year 2020
When i cheked in google it say it was closed permanently
Erlend says
It clearly says in the first paragraph in red that Atatürk Airport has been closed permanently for commercial aircrafts.
Ana says
Hi, we have a connecting flight Ljubljana, Istanbul,Manila on Saturday 8th Feb … We only have one hour and 45 min for a transfer, will it be enough? Thanks Ana
Erlend says
Hi Ana,
That should be enough I guess, certainly since with transfers you have no luggage or border controls to deal with as long as you stay in transit.
Have a nice flight.
Marina says
Hi! I’ve got a flight for tomorrow from istanbul to bodrum 23/09/2019 with onur air 8Q124 at 16.40 hrs booked with rumbo but cannot make the check in on line… onur air is not available… the confirmation was departure from istanbul new airport but I can’ t find the flight, the airlines do not answer the call and now I even doubt if the flight might be from sabina gokcen…
Erlend says
Hi Marina,
I’m not a travel agent, so unfortunately I can’t help you. Your best bet is to keep on calling Onur airlines.
Good luck.
Monica says
Thank you for all the information. I have traveled several times from the US to other parts of the world via Istanbul Ataturk airport. The transit time has sometimes required that I spend the night in Istanbul. I would go to the hotel desk where transit passengers were accompanied to local hotels courtesy of Turkish airlines.
What is the situation with the new airport? For my next flight, I’m supposed to arrive around 16:00 and depart the next day at 15:00. Is there a hotel desk and transportation to hotels in town?
Please help.
Erlend says
Hi Monica,
I’m afraid that I don’t know the current situation for transit users. However, there is a new hotel inside the airport called Yotel Istanbul. If that doesn’t suit you, I think you better contact Turkish Airlines and ask what the current situation is.
Hope this helps.
Jacques Smith says
Good Evening
We re flying to Istanbul on June 14, but our tickets show Ataturk airport, is this correct?
Erlend says
Hi Jacques,
No, Atatürk Airport is closed now, you’ll probably be flying into the new Istanbul airport. Double check with the airline company you’re flying with.
Have a nice flight.
Nosheen says
I ll be going to Istanbul from Pakistan on 7th June 2019 but my ticket says i ll be landing at attaturk airport…so where ll i land?can u help?
Erlend says
Hi Nosheen,
You’ll be landing at the new Istanbul airport. But contact the company who issued your tickets to make sure.
Najma Bashar says
I will be flying from US to Beirut via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. My transit time is only one hour. Will that be adequate time?
Erlend says
I would say yes since you won’t be checking in luggage, but do check with Turkish Airlines to be sure.
Have a nice flight.
Patrick says
I will fly from US to Istanbul stay there for 2 weeks vacation and fly to Athans for a week and back to Istanbul, then fly back to US at the end of May. Do they have hotels near the new Istanbul airport that I can stay for transferring flight?
Erlend says
Hi Patrick,
There is a new hotel inside the airport called Yotel Istanbul. Other than that, I don’t think there are many (decent) hotels in the vicinity of the airport.
Hope this helps.
mervat says
Hi,
Im coming into Ataturk Airport from the States on June ,2 . I have a car reservation at Ataturk Airport. what am I suppose to do?
Erlend says
Hi Mervat,
You will obviously land at the new Istanbul airport instead of Atatürk Airport. Of course the rental car companies also moved to the new location. I suggest you contact them and explain the situation. I’m confident they have an answer ready.
Best of luck.
Gurjeet Singh Kohli says
Hi
How far is new Istanbul Airport to –
1. Ataruk Airport
2. Taksim
Also plz tell mode of transport and cost?
Thanks
Erlend says
Hi Gurjeet,
Taksim is about 40 km away. I have a whole post on transportation options from the new Istanbul Airport.
Hope this helps.
Rahmatnor says
Hi I. I have booked a flight from Jeddah to Izmir via Istanbul Atarturk airport on 15 April. Jeddah to Atarturk by Saudia and Atarturk airport to Izmir by Turkish airline. Will Atarturk airport still operational by 15 April? or totally closed to all passenger airlines?Else I do not have enough time to catch my connecting flight to Izmir. Please help.
Erlend says
Hi,
The latest news confirmed that Atatürk Airport will be closed to all commercial passenger flights as of April 6th, international and domestic.
Have a nice stay.
Hun Chin Khor says
Can you please furnish the full address of the New Istanbul Airport, we need to arrange private air port pick up. Thanks.
Erlend says
Hi Hun,
Its full address is:
Istanbul Havlimanı,
Tayakadın Mahallesi, Terminal Caddesi No:1
34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Have a nice flight.
Sonia says
It says above that work “should be finished bu april 7th” is there no way that this can be confirmed. This is because my airline provider is giving me tickets for the 9th but he is saying it can still change
Thank you
Erlend says
Hi Sonia,
That date has been put for by the government, and was echoed by all media channels. In all fairness, it’s the third date already, but it looks the most realistic so far.
Cross fingers.