New Istanbul Airport Guide

The massive transfer of operations from Ataturk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport is now complete.

- Jenni Reid

The move took place over 33 hours from April 5 to April 6 and saw Turkish Airlines alone shift47,300 tons of equipment across the city.

After several delays, the airport is now fully operational and has taken on Ataturk’s old IATA code IST. (Ataturk will continue to see non-commercial flights, and is now listed ISL). Its annual capacity is currently 90 million and is expected to rise to as much as 200 million over the coming years.

GETTING THERE

The airport is around 25 miles northwest of central Istanbul, on the European side. Metro is currently under construction that will allow 25-minute journeys to the city center as well as links to other districts – but that’s not opening until next year at the earliest.

In the meantime, travelers have to choose between a taxi (Uber operates in the city, and fare from the central Fatih district should cost between $25 and $30) and the ‘Havaist’ bus network that runs on 20 lines to the airport.

GETTING AROUND