On April 6, 2019, all scheduled commercial passenger flights were moved from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport, which subsequently closed to scheduled passenger flights. The IATA code IST was also transferred to the new airport.
In 2023, it accommodated over 76 million passengers, making it the second busiest airport in Europe after Heathrow and the second busiest in the Middle East, following Dubai International Airport. It ranked as the seventh busiest airport globally in terms of total passenger traffic and the sixth busiest for international passenger traffic, with more than 58 million international travelers, according to ACI World Traffic Values. The airport serves up to 114 countries and acts as the hub for Turkish Airlines.
The new airport is being constructed at the junction of the roads leading to Arnavutköy, Göktürk, and Çatalca, situated north of central Istanbul and nestled between the Black Sea coastal towns of Yeniköy, Tayakadın, and Akpınar. This expansive area covers 7,600 hectares (19,000 acres) near Lake Terkos, with approximately 6,172 hectares (15,250 acres) previously designated as state forest. The distance from Istanbul Airport to Atatürk Airport is roughly 35 km (22 mi).
The airport's construction will occur in multiple phases, allowing for the gradual expansion of its facilities over time.
Mosque:
The Ali Kuşçu Mosque, located in Airport City to the south of the airport, can accommodate up to 6,000 worshippers and is recognized as the world's first "LEED Gold" certified mosque by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Security:
To maintain security at the airport, there are 3,500 security guards and a total of 1,850 police officers, which includes 750 immigration officers. The perimeter is safeguarded by ground-penetrating radar, fixed CCTV cameras placed every 60 meters, pan-tilt-zoom cameras every 360 meters (1,180 feet), thermal imaging cameras, and fiber optic sensors every 720 meters (2,360 feet). The active terminal building is equipped with up to 9,000 CCTV cameras.
Metro:
Main article: İstanbul Havalimanı (Istanbul Metro)
Metro station entrance:
Istanbul Airport Metro Station:
The M11 (Istanbul Metro) line was inaugurated on January 22, 2023, initially connecting to Kağıthane. Following the opening of the Gayrettepe extension on January 29, 2024, trains will operate eastward to Gayrettepe and westward to Arnavutköy. An extension to Halkalı is currently under construction.
Buses operated by IETT and Havaist provide public transportation from the city to the airport.
Car and taxi:
You can reach the airport by car using the O-7 motorway or the D.020 expressway. Istanbul city taxis are available around the clock outside the arrivals and departures areas. A taxi ride to downtown Istanbul typically takes about an hour.
Rail:
There are ongoing plans for a main rail line that will connect the airport to Çatalca and Halkalı, along with a bypass that will cross the Bosphorus via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and link to the Anatolian rail network at Gebze, although construction has faced continuous delays.