Home
Search
Maps of Turkey
Photo Gallery

Where to Go
When to Go
Where to Stay
What It Costs
Turkish Money
Transport
FAQ-Travel Details

Best Itineraries
Guided Tours
Travel Agency
Unusual Trips
Consultations

TTP Forums
Funny Stuff
Shopping
Site Index
Bright Sun

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus about 30 km (19 miles) southeast of Haydarpaşa Station, the Kadıköy ferry dock, and the Harem intercity bus terminal.

Located between the suburbs of Kurtköy and Pendik, Sabiha Gökçen (pronounced SAH-bee-hah GURK-chen) serves the full range of flights including international flights by major airlines, but it is still considered Istanbul's "second airport" after the older Atatürk Airport.

Note that prices for food and drink at Turkish airports tend to be very high. My quick informal survey showed them to be 40% higher than at expensive Frankfurt Airport, and twice as high as at pricey Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Transport between Sabiha Gökçen Airport and the center of Istanbul is by city bus, HAVAŞ Airport Bus, taxi, excellent private transfer service, shuttle van, and car rental. More...

To/from Atatürk Airport
Here are instructions for going to Atatürk Airport on the European shore from Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus.

Airport History
The airport is named for Ms Sabiha Gökçen (1913-2001), the world's first female fighter pilot. In her long career as a pilot and teacher she flew 22 different combat and aerobatics aircraft, and was the first woman to fly the Focke Wulfe 190-A3. Visit the Sabiha Gökçen Airport website for more on this remarkable pilot.

Ms Gökçen's pioneering work was made possible because of Kemal Atatürk's social reforms, which emphasized equal rights and opportunities for women, and the importance of flight. Turks in the air travel and aircraft industries eagerly quote Atatürk's prescient saying, "The future is in the skies."

An important aspect of the airport's operation is as the air hub of Istanbul's Advanced Technology Industry Park project.