Until 2018, it was possible to get to Istanbul by air only through two airports - named after Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen. On October 29, 2018, the most popular city among foreigners in Turkey received a new, more spacious and modern airport, which was immediately named in the press as the Third or Istanbul Hawalimani. In fact, the official name of the new airport is Istanbul International Airport. It is located on the European side of the city - in the Arnavutkei district.
Six months after the opening of a new airport in Istanbul, the old one named after Ataturk was transformed to serve only cargo aircraft. Most of the guests arriving in Istanbul now start their long Turkish journey from Istanbul Airport.
History
Turks eagerly set about building a new airport, which is 35 km away from the city. According to the ambitious plans of the local authorities, the third airport of Istanbul should become the largest air harbor in the world. For the construction of the airport, a plot of more than 7.5 hectares was allocated next to Lake Terkos. This area, overgrown with forest, turned out to be dug by miners' tunnels, who mined coal here. They acted very simply with the mines - they fell asleep, having achieved a level area. They also got rid of the trees, which made it possible to start construction work.
Despite the fact that the airport is already in operation, its construction is still ongoing. Completion of all works is planned by 2023. At the moment there are 4 runways. In a few years there will be 6 of them. 45 planes will be able to leave Istanbul at the same time and land here. The airport's long-term plans include serving 200 million people a year. Now these figures look a little more modest - the airport receives about 90 million guests throughout the year.
The first plane to test the new runway after the airport opened was sent to Ankara. The second flight connected Istanbul with Izmir. Then a flight was made outside Turkey - to Baku.
Airport services and security
Istanbul Airport has one terminal, which serves both domestic and international flights. The huge space is equipped according to the requirements of the most discerning passengers. There are comfortable waiting rooms, including for guests traveling in business class, a hotel for almost half a thousand people, which they plan to make one of the most comfortable in the world, parking for 70 thousand cars, two dozen currency exchange points, ATMs, bank offices, rental vehicles, shops, restaurants, pharmacies, a medical office, etc. For believers, there are 40 mosques and two churches belonging to other confessions at the airport.
Free wireless Internet is provided to passengers for 2 hours. You can also connect to Wi-Fi provided by numerous cafes at the airport. To use this service with a sim card brought from home, and not purchased in Turkey, you should download a special mobile application offered by the airport. This can be done before traveling to avoid wasting time at the airport.
For those guests who cannot imagine life without cigarettes, the new Istanbul Airport has special areas where smoking is allowed.
3,500 security personnel keep order at the airport. They are assisted by 1,850 police officers, of whom 750 are involved in immigration matters. Video cameras are installed along the perimeter of the airport every 60 meters. The terminal uses 9000 CCTV cameras.
How to get to the airport
By the end of the airport construction, the city authorities promise to open a new metro line, which is now being actively built. According to the latest data, it is 70% ready. It will be possible to transfer to it from Gayrettepe stations on the green metro line, Olympiyat on the blue line, or Khalkali on the Marmaray line.
Now the airport is connected with the center of Istanbul by bus service. Shuttles run to Yenikapi, Taksim Square, the main bus station. At all these points there is an exit to the metro, which can be used for further travel to the desired hotel. The shuttle ride will cost 16-25 liras. Traveling on a regular city bus will be a little cheaper. They take you to the Halkali and Mesidiyekoy metro stations.
Some hotels offer their guests a shuttle service. This makes sense if you have never been to the city and are not ready to jump with suitcases from one metro line to another in order to find your hotel.
Finally, you can use the services of taxi drivers who will take you from the airport to the hotel much faster than public transport.
