Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Istanbul's second international gateway on the Asian side.
- ›Named after Sabiha Gökçen, one of the world's first female combat pilots.
- ›Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, approximately 35 km from the city center.
- ›Pegasus Airlines uses it as its main operational hub.
- ›Opened in 2001 as a relief airport to Atatürk Airport, which has since closed to commercial flights.
- ›Has undergone multiple capacity expansions, reaching an annual capacity of over 41 million passengers.
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, named after Turkey's pioneering female aviator, opened in 2001 on the Asian side of Istanbul in the Pendik district. It serves as a major hub for low-cost carriers, particularly Pegasus Airlines, and handles tens of millions of passengers annually. Its position on the Asian shore offers a distinct alternative to Istanbul Airport, connecting the city's eastern suburbs with global destinations.
- International Terminal — Handles all international departures and arrivals with modern check-in halls, duty-free retail, and immigration facilities.
- Domestic Terminal — Processes domestic Turkish routes with streamlined check-in and boarding facilities adjacent to the international pier.
- Havaş airport shuttle bus connecting to Taksim Square and Kadıköy
- Istanbul metro M4 line with connecting bus service to airport
- Public bus routes operated by IETT to various Asian-side districts
- Taxi and rideshare services available from the designated rank outside arrivals
- Car rental desks from major operators including Avis, Hertz, and Europcar
- Private transfer and hotel shuttle services bookable in advance
- DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Pendik
- Courtyard by Marriott Istanbul International Airport
- Ibis Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport
- Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent (accessible via transfer)
- Ramada by Wyndham Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Inside the terminal, passengers will find a solid mix of Turkish and international options including Simit Sarayı, Burger King, and local kebab outlets in both the domestic and international zones. Airside dining expands post-security with cafés and sit-down restaurants suited for longer layovers. For a more authentic Istanbul meal, the nearby Pendik and Kurtköy districts offer traditional Turkish restaurants just a short taxi ride away.
- Allow extra time for road transfers to the European side — crossings can take 60 to 90 minutes in peak traffic.
- The Havaş bus to Taksim is affordable and reliable but book or board early as it fills quickly on busy mornings.
- Domestic and international check-in areas share the same building but use separate queues — confirm your terminal zone on your boarding pass.
- Currency exchange and ATMs are available both before and after passport control, though post-security rates may vary.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Airlines serving this airport
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Stay, Eat & Explore: Istanbul
Where continents meet
- •Hagia Sophia — Fifteen centuries as cathedral, mosque and wonder of the world.
- •Blue Mosque — Six minarets and 20,000 İznik tiles.
- •Topkapı Palace — The sultans' seaside palace and treasury.
- •Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar — 4,000 shops of carpets, lamps, lokum and saffron.
- •Bosphorus Cruise — Palaces and fortresses from the strait between two continents.
Getting around: Trams, metro, funiculars and ferries knit the two shores; the İstanbulkart covers them all. IST airport links by metro and Havaist buses.
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Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is the secondary international airport serving Istanbul, Turkey. Located 32 km (20 mi) southeast of the city centre, Sabiha Gökçen Airport is in the Asian part of the transcontinental city and serves as the operating base for AJet and Pegasus Airlines.
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