A shiny new hub for Turkish Airlines, which flies to more than 300 destinations around the world, including nine cities in the US, Istanbul Airport has officially replaced Atatürk International Airport as the main international gateway to the region and has the capacity to receive 90 million passengers in transit annually. While the airport’s bright, airy and ultra-modern main terminal is nearing completion, all that remains are a few finishing touches – this is just the first of several phases scheduled for development over the next decade.
By 2028, Istanbul Airport will have the capacity to accommodate some 200 million passengers annually through four terminals and six runways, making it the busiest airport in the world.
Istanbul airport code, location and contact information
- The official IATA code for Istanbul Airport is IST, a legacy of Atatürk International Airport. (Not to be confused with IST, the airport is run by a Turkish company called iGA, which you will see on the airport logo and signage at the terminal.)
- Istanbul Airport is located in a rural district of the Istanbul province, about 20 miles north of the city center. While there are plans to connect the airport to the city with a metro line (scheduled to open in 2020), currently only select bus, taxi, and other private transfers are available, such as those that can be arranged by your hotel.
- The airport’s official website includes a flight tracking feature on its home page. Additional resources include an interactive Istanbul airport map, a 360-degree browsing feature, and detailed transportation information, including airport parking and driving directions. The Turkish Airlines website also has a helpful guide to Istanbul airport.
- The main customer service phone number for Istanbul Airport is 444 1 442, which can be called directly via cellular services or via Wi-Fi-enabled platforms such as FaceTime and WhatsApp. The airport can also be reached via Twitter and email.
Istanbul Airport: Know Before You Go
Although Istanbul Airport currently has a single main terminal for all arrivals, departures and transfers (which includes separate entrances and security for domestic and international flights) at more than 15 million square feet, it is also one of the largest terminal buildings. greats of the world. It is sprawling and lacks moving walkways or other transit infrastructure (e.g. shuttle buses or trams between contests) to speed up traffic along the main building, which means that it is essential to allow enough time to transfer between doors in different lobbies or to reach your door from the main shopping and restaurant centers, also from the location of all airline lounges.
Under the iGA Pass Premium Experiences umbrella, which can be purchased online or through the airport app, the airport managing company sells passes for single-use services, including access to the iGA Lounge and iGA’s Buggy service, which have a cost of 5 euros for adults (children and babies travel free), it is one of the only motorized ways to move around the terminal at the moment. Of course, special services are always available for passengers who need additional assistance; Please contact your airline prior to your travel dates to make any necessary arrangements.
Savvy travelers will wait for a layover or a little longer at Istanbul’s new airport, which has plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining, including the world’s largest duty-free shopping area, local specialty shops, and extensive options for enjoy delicious dishes. Local cuisine, whether in casual dining, sit-down or spacious Turkish Airlines flagship lounges. The airport also has a 24-hour airport hotel, Yotel Istanbul, which has pre- and post-security check-ins and can be booked by the hour (with a minimum of four hours) or overnight.
A note on wifi
While the airport has a free public Wi-Fi network, it is configured in a way that requires a code sent via SMS to activate. This essentially makes the network inaccessible to anyone traveling without cellular data, as if their phone is in “airplane mode.” On the other hand, wi-fi is available in the lounges and inside the airport hotel.
What to eat and drink
From American chains such as Starbucks and Popeyes, to takeaway cafes, bakeries and restaurants with a Turkish twist, to a sit-down grill restaurant and a bevy of casual dining concepts with notable chef names attached, Istanbul Airport has options to satiate every traveler and there are more vacancies to come.
- Taste of Anatolia is a collection of open kitchen Turkish restaurants where you can find everything from traditional mezze and hot dishes, to grilled doner kebab sandwiches, to all varieties of cookies, baked goods and sweets, including cheesy and sticky künefe. The restaurant sitting here offers a more relaxed dining experience and also has a full bar.
- Simit Sarayı outposts serve up sesame-crusted buns of the same name from Turkey, called simits , with a variety of toppings at three locations throughout the airport.
- At the far end of the terminal, above concourse A and B, Gourmet Trilogy features three fast and casual chef-driven dining concepts, including Akrame Benallal’s Vivanda Burger, whose eponymous Parisian restaurant boasts two Michelin stars and Outposts of Enzo Pizzeria and Healthy Eats Cafe Gram from Istanbul chef and cookbook author Didem Senol.
Where to buy
Istanbul airport is truly a shopping paradise. Highlights include:
- The largest retail duty free zone in the world, Unifree Duty Free, which is divided into nine concept areas covering nearly 600,000 square feet. You’ll find everything from fashion and accessories brands to beauty, home and electronics deals. Samsonite, Tumi, Longchamp, and Herschel Supply are among the brands that stock travel items and accessories.
- Luxury abounds. Anchored by a Louis Vuitton store with a mind-blowing digital art facade, Istanbul Airport’s shopping promenade offers high-fashion deals to rival some of the world’s most exclusive shopping streets, with shops from Prada, Dior, Celine, Gucci. , Saint Laurent, Fendi and Hermes, to name a few.
- Another prominent flagship is an outpost of the concept store of Turkish designers Vakko, which has sections dedicated to household goods, business attire, cruise clothing, accessories, gifts, scarves and even a confectionery that sells its exclusive sweets from chocolate. Established Turkish manufacturers are also represented. Keep an eye out for Desa clothing and leather goods, Mehry Mu handbags, Saat & Saat watches and accessories, Gilan ornaments, and more.
- For food products, handicrafts and other Turkish delicacies, yes, including sweets of the same name, head to the Old Bazaar, which focuses on consumables and other locally made items. (If the name sounds familiar, there was a similar offer at the previous airport.) From Turkish coffee and loose leaf tea to pottery and jewelry, the Old Bazaar is a reliable bet for picking up some last-minute souvenirs or flavors. Turkey to take home.
Istanbul airport lounges
As the global hub for Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Airport has some pretty fantastic lounge options that make smart use of space above the extensive offerings of shops and restaurants in the heart of the new terminal.
- The Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge and the Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge are open, meandering spaces of about 60,000 square feet each that can collectively accommodate up to 1,530 passengers, the main difference between the two being the clientele they serve. Miles & Smiles Lounge is accessible to all Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance Business Class passengers, as well as Economy passengers with certain frequent flyer status, while the Business Class Lounge is exclusively for Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance passengers Business Class who travel internationally.
- Both lounges feature live cooking stations, snack stations, cold salad bars, self-service bar, and beverage areas, as well as traditional self-serve Turkish coffee and tea and an abundance of sweets, such as cakes, cookies, and assorted baklava. .
- Additional amenities include luggage storage, showers, designated television and relaxation areas, meeting rooms, and ample and varied seating for dining, working, and simply lounging, depending on what you’re looking to accomplish with your time.
- For the young (and young at heart), both classrooms feature a designated children’s play area, a motorized race track, an arcade, golf simulators, and even an old-fashioned popcorn machine. The Business Class lounge also has a gallery space curated by the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art.
- The Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge is accessible to all Turkish Airlines Business Class passengers, as well as Economy passengers with certain Miles & Smiles or Star Alliance frequent flyer status, and features many of the same amenities as international salons, only on a smaller scale. Please note that the lounge can be accessed from a special entrance on the sidewalk; check-in is done once you have arrived inside.
- The iGA Lounge serves all non-Star Alliance business class passengers. Day access can also be purchased online or at the entrance, as long as space is available, which is difficult to understand as the hall spans nearly 50,000 square feet. In addition to the spacious seating areas, there is a main dining area, a bar area, and several conference rooms. Currently, the priority pass is not accepted.
- Additional lounge offerings are yet to come, including a dedicated Turkish Airlines lounge, a Turkish Airlines arrivals lounge, and a dedicated SkyTeam lounge.
Tips and tidbits about Istanbul airport
- You have more questions? The main information desk at Istanbul Airport is conveniently located immediately after the security screening for international passengers. Also look for staff in purple shirts who say “Ask me / Bana Sorun.”
- While Uber is available in Istanbul, the BiTaksi app is an equally popular option and worth downloading, to help with transportation around the city and to the airport from the city center.
- Are you curious to spend a few days in Istanbul on your way to another destination? Turkish Airlines offers a free stopover program that includes free accommodation.
- If you will be spending any time on the ground in Istanbul or Turkey, don’t forget to apply for a Turkish e-Visa before your departure.
