Atatürk Havalimanı

Ataturk Airport is the first airport in Turkey. It is the former second airport of Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey. Sabiha Gokcen is the other airport and Istanbul Airport was built in 2019 instead of Ataturk Airport. It is operated by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) for civilian purposes. It is located 24 kilometers away from the city center on the European side of Istanbul.

In 1912, a military airfield was opened in Istanbul Yesilkoy for military purposes only. In 1938, the construction of an airport was proposed and it was decided to convert the military airfield, which was then called Tayyare Meydani, into an airport. In 1944, the International Civil Aviation Agreement was signed and construction of Ataturk Airport began in 1949. It was completed in 1953 and started operating under the name Yesilkoy Airport. In response to the increasing demand after the opening of the airport to air traffic, renovation and new terminal construction were carried out in 1968 and 1972. In line with the projects, the new airport was opened on October 29, 1983. Two years after the opening, it was renamed Ataturk Airport, its current name. 

In 2000, a new terminal was built in Istanbul to accommodate the increasing number of people in the city. With the new terminal, the airport's annual passenger capacity reached 20 million. It became the country's largest airport before the construction of the current new airport. After the opening of Istanbul Airport on October 28, 2018, it was closed to domestic and international flights. Since December 31, 2018, it has only been open for cargo, maintenance, air taxi, government, and business flights.

Istanbul is a city that spans both Europe and Asia and offers various transportation options. Its airports are different from other airports in this regard. There are different alternatives such as rail, bus, taxi, and ferry services. Depending on the district you are going to, there are metro, tram, and Marmaray railway options. Airport shuttles also serve both sides of the city. There are many different options for transportation from Ataturk Airport to your destination. One of the easiest options is the Yenikapi-Ataturk Airport metro line. It takes about 35 minutes to reach the airport from Yenikapi. You can also choose the YH-1 Yenikapi IDO-Ataturk Airport, TH-1 Taksim-Ataturk Airport lines. Havatas, also known as Havabus, is a relatively more expensive option compared to municipal buses. However, it is more comfortable than municipal buses.

Taxis are the most preferred means of transportation from Ataturk Airport. However, before using a taxi, make sure to find out the fare or ask them to turn on the meter. Otherwise, you may end up paying an unexpected amount. On the contrary, if you are coming from the Asian side to Ataturk Airport, you should first cross to the European side. For this, you can use Marmaray, municipal buses, or metrobus. If you are coming to Istanbul to explore one of the most magnificent cities in history or for business purposes, the most comfortable means of transportation is car rental. Especially at airports, there are numerous car rental companies that you can choose according to your expectations. However, it is important to remember that such a crowded city is traveled by many locals and foreigners. Making a reservation in advance for car rental is a crucial detail to find a vehicle.