About Sabiha Gökçen Airport!

Sabiha Gokcen Airport: Istanbul's Second International Gateway

Istanbul, with its historical and cultural wealth, stands out as one of the most important cities in the world. The city has two main air transportation hubs: Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Sabiha Gokcen Airport provides great convenience, especially for those living on the Anatolian side and those arriving from the Asian direction.

History

Sabiha Gokcen Airport is named after Sabiha Gokcen, the first female fighter pilot of Turkey and the world. The airport, which was opened in 2001, was built to accommodate Istanbul's rapidly growing population and increasing international air traffic. Since the 2000s, with the region's economic growth and the development of tourism, the airport has become one of Istanbul's international connection points.

Location and Transportation

Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, in the Kurtkoy neighborhood of the Pendik district. The distance to the city center varies between 40-60 minutes depending on traffic. Access to the airport is quite easy. It can be reached via the E5 and TEM highways, as well as by private shuttles and bus lines departing from central points such as Kadikoy, Taksim, and Levent. In addition, an integrated transportation network is available with Marmaray and the Metrobus.

Services and Capacity

Sabiha Gokcen Airport serves both domestic and international terminals. With a capacity to serve approximately 35 million passengers per year, the airport is a hub for many international and domestic airlines. Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and AnadoluJet frequently operate from the airport, with many flights to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport offers a wide range of services to meet passengers' needs, including duty-free shops, food and beverage areas, parking services, and VIP lounges. In addition, the airport's car rental services are highly developed, with many rental companies providing fast and reliable transportation options to arriving passengers.

Development and Future Plans

In recent years, a number of projects have been initiated to increase the capacity of Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Construction of a second runway has begun, and once completed, it is expected to significantly boost the airport's capacity. Additionally, with the extension of the metro line to the airport, city transportation will become even easier.