Jump to content

Atatürk Airport

Coordinates: 40°58′34″N 028°48′51″E / 40.97611°N 28.81417°E / 40.97611; 28.81417
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Istanbul-Atatürk)

Atatürk Airport
Atatürk Havalimanı
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGeneral Directorate of State Airports (DHMİ)
OperatorTAV Airports
ServesIstanbul, Turkey
LocationTurkey Bakırköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Opened1 August 1953 (1953-08-01) (as airport)
Closed5 February 2022 (2022-02-05) (cargo)
Passenger services ceased6 April 2019 (2019-04-06)
Built1912 (1912) (as airfield)
Elevation AMSL163 ft / 50 m
Coordinates40°58′34″N 028°48′51″E / 40.97611°N 28.81417°E / 40.97611; 28.81417
Websiteataturkairport.com (archived on 8 February 2020)
Maps
ISL is located in Istanbul
ISL
ISL
Location within Istanbul
ISL is located in Turkey
ISL
ISL
ISL (Turkey)
ISL is located in Europe
ISL
ISL
ISL (Europe)
ISL is located in North Atlantic
ISL
ISL
ISL (North Atlantic)
Map
Interactive map of Atatürk Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 2,580 8,465 Grooved asphalt
Statistics (2019[1])
Annual passenger capacity38,200,000
Passengers16,112,804
Passenger change 2018–19Decrease76%
Aircraft movements138,279
Movements change 2018–19Decrease70%

Atatürk Airport (IATA: ISL, ICAO: LTBA) is a public airport located in Yeşilköy, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Formerly the primary international airport of Istanbul and the hub of Turkish Airlines, it was closed to commercial passenger flights on 6 April 2019. From that point, all commercial scheduled passenger flights were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport.[2][3] Since the move of commercial operations to the new airport, Atatürk Airport is open to general aviation and functions as an executive airport.

History

[edit]

Growth and development

[edit]

In 1911, a small apron with two hangars was built in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, for the Ottoman Armed Forces.[4] Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti (Turkish Aircraft Company, today Türk Hava Kurumu - THK) in 1925. In 1933, today's Turkish Airlines, the Türkiye Devlet Hava Yolları started its flights with two Curtiss Kingbird aircraft. Flights from Istanbul to Ankara and Athens began. The small apron was expanded and a new passenger terminal was built. This is considered the beginning of the airport's 86-year history. It was originally named Yeşilköy Airport. In the 1980s, it was renamed Atatürk International Airport.

It served more than 60 million passengers in 2015, making it the 11th-busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic and the 10th-busiest in the world in terms of international passenger traffic. In 2017, it was Europe's 5th-busiest airport after London–Heathrow, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt Airport, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, having fallen from third place after a decline in passengers due to security fears.[5]

Closure

[edit]

Istanbul Atatürk Airport was replaced in regards to commercial passenger functions by the newly constructed Istanbul Airport, in April 2019, in order to meet Istanbul's growing domestic and international air traffic demand as a source, destination, and transit point. Both airports were used in parallel for five months from late 2018, with the new airport gradually expanding to serve more domestic and regional destinations.[6] On 6 April 2019, Atatürk's IST IATA airport code was inherited by Istanbul Airport and Atatürk Airport was assigned the code ISL after the full transfer of all scheduled passenger activities to the new airport was completed.[7] The final commercial flight, Turkish Airlines Flight 54, left Atatürk Airport on 6 April 2019 at 02:44 for Singapore.[8]

On 5 February 2022, Turkish Cargo relocated all cargo flights and operations from their former hub at the airport to the new Istanbul Airport.[9][10]

Atatürk Airport National Garden

[edit]
Further information: Atatürk Airport National Garden

Turkey's government announced its plans to construct a giant park on the grounds of the former Istanbul Atatürk Airport (whose operations were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport) in 2019.[11] The park, Atatürk Airport National Garden, is part of a larger urban transformation plan that seeks to correct some of the haphazard urban planning that characterised most major Turkish cities since the 1970s.[12] Due to the little space available to construct or expand green spaces, new parks are often constructed on spots formerly occupied by factories or other major facilities.

The Atatürk Airport National Garden was to be constructed on and around one of the two runways of Atatürk Airport.[13] These runways were already rendered unusable after they were chosen as the site for Istanbul's pandemic hospital in early 2020.[14] More than 132,500 trees are to be planted in place of the asphalt runway and taxiways that will also help to keep the city cooler.[11] The other runway was set to remain in use for select cargo and private jet flights, aviation fairs (such as Teknofest) and for use by the Turkish Air Force (which still maintains a small training base and the Istanbul Aviation Museum here).[citation needed]

The leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called the proposed construction of the park "treason" and threatened to hold those responsible to account.[15]

Construction commenced in 2022.[16] First areas of the park were opened to the public in 2023.[17] In 2024, the Council of State cancelled the construction tender, following a lawsuit filed by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.[16][18] The park officially opened to the public on 1 November 2025.[19]

Facilities

[edit]
The original terminal at Yeşilköy in 1970
The former main terminal, inaugurated in 1983, which then served as the domestic section until 2019
The now defunct main passenger terminal in 2013

Former passenger terminals

[edit]

Istanbul Atatürk Airport featured two passenger terminals linked to each other.[20] The former domestic terminal is the older and smaller of the two terminals and exclusively handled domestic flights within Turkey. It featured its own check-in and airside facilities on the upper floor, with twelve departure gates equipped with jet bridges[20] and five baggage claim belts on the ground level.[20] The former international terminal was inaugurated in 2000 and used for all international flights. It featured a large main hall containing 8 check-in aisles and a wide range of airside facilities such as shops and restaurants, 34 gates equipped with jet bridges, and 7 bus-boarding stands. The arrivals floor had 11 baggage claim belts.[20] In addition, there is a general aviation terminal to the northwest of the passenger terminals.[21]

Former cargo terminal

[edit]

The airport featured a dedicated cargo terminal including facilities for the handling of radioactive and refrigerated freight.[22]

Other facilities

[edit]

Current operations

[edit]

As of April 2019, all passenger operations have been relocated to the new Istanbul Airport. As of February 2022, all cargo operations have been relocated to the new airport as well.[26][citation needed] Currently, the airport serves only private and business jets as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey.[citation needed]

Traffic statistics

[edit]
PassengersYear010,000,00020,000,00030,000,00040,000,00050,000,00060,000,00070,000,000200720102013201620192022PassengersAnnual passenger traffic
İstanbul–Atatürk International Airport Passenger Traffic Statistics[27]
Year Domestic % change International % change Total % change
2019 4,236,203 Decrease 78% 11,876,601 Decrease 76% 16,112,804 Decrease 76%
2018 19,216,523 Decrease 2% 49,130,261 Increase 10% 68,346,784 Increase 7%
2017 19,629,425 Increase 3% 44,476,589 Increase 8% 64,106,014 Increase 6%
2016 19,133,533 Decrease 1% 41,281,937 Decrease 2% 60,415,470 Decrease 1%
2015 19,333,873 Increase 4% 41,998,251 Increase 10% 61,332,124 Increase 8%
2014 18,542,295 Increase 8% 38,152,871 Increase 12% 56,695,166 Increase 11%
2013 17,218,672 Increase 13% 34,079,118 Increase 14% 51,297,790 Increase 14%
2012 15,279,655 Increase 14% 29,812,307 Increase 24% 45,091,962 Increase 21%
2011 13,421,536 Increase 14% 23,973,158 Increase 18% 37,394,694 Increase 16%
2010 11,800,833 Increase 3% 20,342,986 Increase 11% 32,143,819 Increase 8%
2009 11,416,838 Decrease 1% 18,396,050 Increase 8% 29,812,888 Increase 4%
2008 11,484,063 Increase 20% 17,069,069 Increase 26% 28,553,132 Increase 23%
2007 9,595,923 Increase 6% 13,600,306 Increase 12% 23,196,229 Increase 9%
2006 9,091,693 Increase 21% 12,174,281 Increase 3% 21,265,974 Increase 10%
2005 7,512,282 Increase 39% 11,781,487 Increase 16% 19,293,769 Increase 24%
2004 5,430,925 Increase 70% 10,169,676 Increase 14% 15,600,601 Increase 29%
2003 3,196,045 Increase 12% 8,908,268 Increase 5% 12,104,342 Increase 7%
2002 2,851,487 Decrease 24% 8,506,204 Decrease 4% 11,357,691 Increase 10%
2001 3,773,699 Decrease 27% 8,827,732 Decrease 7% 12,601,431 Decrease 14%
2000 5,181,845 Steady 9,465,965 Steady 14,647,810 Steady


Movements

[edit]
İstanbul–Atatürk International Airport Aircraft Movement Statistics[28]
Year Domestic % change International % change Total % change
2025 16,035 Decrease 2% 12,712 Increase 7% 28,747 Increase 2%
2024 16,331 Increase 7% 11,902 Increase 20% 28,233 Increase 12%
2023 15,283 Decrease 5% 9,922 Decrease 19% 25,205 Decrease 11%
2022 16,027 Increase 20% 12,245 Decrease 56% 28,272 Decrease 31%
2021 13,327 Increase 30% 27,705 Increase 2% 41,032 Increase 10%
2020 10,248 Decrease 73% 27,220 Decrease 73% 37,468 Decrease 73%
2019 38,604 Decrease 72% 99,675 Decrease 70% 138,279 Decrease 70%
2018 136,005 Decrease 5% 328,641 Increase 3% 464,646 Increase 1%
2017 142,451 Increase 1% 318,334 Decrease 2% 460,785 Decrease 1%
2016 141,361 Decrease 2% 325,035 Increase 1% 466,396 Increase 0%
2015 143,958 Decrease 1% 320,816 Increase 9% 464,774 Increase 6%
2014 144,771 Increase 4% 294,761 Increase 10% 439,532 Increase 8%
2013 139,043 Increase 9% 267,274 Increase 13% 406,317 Increase 12%
2012 127,013 Increase 7% 237,309 Increase 15% 364,322 Increase 12%
2011 118,588 Increase 13% 206,621 Increase 13% 325,209 Increase 13%
2010 104,662 Decrease 3% 183,584 Increase 4% 288,246 Increase 2%
2009 108,252 Decrease 5% 175,701 Increase 9% 283,953 Increase 3%
2008 114,176 Decrease 1% 161,972 Increase 11% 276,148 Increase 5%
2007 115,820 Steady 146,428 Steady 262,248 Steady

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On 30 January 1975, Turkish Airlines Flight 345, crashed into the Sea of Marmara during its final approach to the airport. All 42 passengers and crew on board were killed.[29]
  • On 24 April 1998, an engine of an Ilyushin Il-62M (registered YR-IRD) exploded shortly before take-off of the aircraft, which was operating a passenger flight from Istanbul Atatürk Airport on behalf of Trans-Asia. Due to the ensuing fire, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All 64 passengers and 9 crew members on board survived.[30]
  • On 25 April 2015, Turkish Airlines Flight 1878, operated by an A320-200, TC-JPE was severely damaged in a landing accident. The aircraft aborted the first hard landing, which inflicted engine and gear damage. On the second attempt at landing, the right gear collapsed and the aircraft rolled off the runway spinning 180 degrees. All 97 passengers and 5 crew members survived with no injuries. The aircraft was written off as a result of the accident.[31]
  • On 28 June 2016, three terrorists killed 44 civilians by gunfire and subsequent suicide bombings, along with 239 civilians injured.[32][33] The three men arrived in a taxi cab and opened fire at the terminal. The three men then blew themselves up when police opened fire. The airport has X-ray scanners at the entrance to the terminal but security checks for cars are limited.[32][34]
  • On 15 July 2016, the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt took place. During the attempted coup, units of the Turkish Armed Forces seized control of the airport and closed it, but it was reopened after pro-government forces regained control.[35][36][37]

Accolades

[edit]
  • The Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers lists İstanbul Atatürk Airport as one of the fifty civil engineering feats in Turkey, a list of remarkable engineering projects completed in the first 50 years of the chamber's existence.[38]
  • In the 2013 Air Transport News awards ceremony, İstanbul Atatürk Airport was named Airport of the Year.[39]
  • The airport was named Europe's Best Airport in the 40–50 million passenger per year category at the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards.[40]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Statistics". dhmi.gov.tr. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Turkish Airlines aims to spread its wings at Istanbul's giant new airport". Reuters. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Full transfer of flights from Ataturk to the Istanbul hub begins". Flight Global. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  4. ^ "EUROCONTROL - the European AIS Database: Introduction to EAD Basic - Home". Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. ^ "'Full' Heathrow Extends European Hub Lead as Terror Hurts Rivals". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  6. ^ Kucukgocmen, Ali (29 October 2018). "Erdogan opens new 'Istanbul Airport', Turkey's biggest". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Istanbul New Airport to affect entire European airspace". Daily Sabah. 19 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Last flight leaves Ataturk as Istanbul switches airports". Reuters. 6 April 2019.
  9. ^ aircargoworld.com - Turkish Cargo completes transition to new Istanbul Airport 8 February 2022
  10. ^ "Turkish Cargo bids farewell to Atatürk Airport, shifts to new hub". Daily Sabah. 8 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Ataturk Airport from a Global Airport to a Beach Park | CCT Investments". Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  12. ^ SABAH, DAILY (5 June 2020). "10 new parks open as Turkey seeks to make cities greener". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Discovery Istanbul: The green city". www.petitfute.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  14. ^ Oryx. "Atatürk Airport National Garden - The Green Lung Of Istanbul". Oryx. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  15. ^ Sabah, Daily (17 May 2022). "Istanbul's old airport set to get green makeover amid opposition". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Top court rules against construction of 'nation's garden' at İstanbul's former airport after its demolition". Turkish Minute. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Atatürk Havalimanı Millet Bahçesi'nin ilk etabı açıldı". Anadolu Agency (in Turkish). 6 May 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Turkish State Council cancels Urbanization Ministry's nation garden project for Atatürk Airport". Duvar English. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  19. ^ DİNÇ, Ece İrem (7 November 2025). "Atatürk Airport Nation's Garden Opens Its Doors". Tourism Explorer. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d "Terminal Map". Ataturkairport.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  21. ^ "General Aviation Terminal". Ataturekairport.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Cargo Terminal". Ataturekairport.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Contact Us." Turkish Airlines. Retrieved on 26 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Map." Turkish Airlines. Retrieved on 26 June 2010. Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Communication".[permanent dead link] Prima Aviation Services Inc. Retrieved 8 June 2014. Map. "Head Office YESILKOY MAH. HAVAALANI CAD. ATATURK HAVALIMANI NO:2/12-1 ZIP: 34149 BAKIRKOY / ISTANBUL"
  26. ^ "Atatürk Havalimanı'nda kargo uçuşları sona erdi. (in Turkish)". Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Statistics". Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  28. ^ "Air Traffic Report". Turkish Airport Authority.
  29. ^ "Aircraft accident Fokker F-28 Fellowship 1000 TC-JAP Istanbul-Yeşilköy Airport (IST) [Marmara Sea]". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  30. ^ Cite error: The named reference asn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  31. ^ Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: THY A320 at Istanbul on Apr 25th 2015, hard landing, go-around, engine problem, gear problem, gear collapse, runway excursion". Aviation Herald. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  32. ^ a b "Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: 41 dead and more than 230 hurt - BBC News". BBC News. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  33. ^ Sabrina Tavernise; Ceylan Yeginsu (28 June 2016). "Attack at Istanbul Airport Leaves at Least 31 Dead". New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Blast and gunfire 'at Istanbul airport'". BBC News. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Turkey coup: How mobiles beat tanks and saved Erdogan". BBC News. 18 July 2016.
  36. ^ Coskun, Humeyra Pamuk (18 July 2016). "At height of Turkish coup bid, rebel jets had Erdogan's plane in their sights". Reuters.
  37. ^ "TRT'de bildiri okuttular". 16 July 2016.
  38. ^ "50 yılda 50 eser - HHPortal". Hhportal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  39. ^ "Air Transport News". Atn.aero. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  40. ^ "World's Best Airports by Passenger Numbers | 2013". Worldairportawards.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
[edit]

Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Istanbul Atatürk Airport at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atatürk_Airport&oldid=1352741881"