Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (IATA: SAW) is Istanbul’s dynamic secondary airport, located on the city’s Asian side. It serves as a major hub for low-cost carriers and has seen explosive growth, handling over 48.4 million passengers in 2025 to become the second-busiest airport in Turkey and the ninth-busiest in Europe .
📋 Key Airport Information
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| IATA Code | SAW |
| ICAO Code | LTFJ |
| Opened | 8 January 2001 |
| Operator | Malaysia Airports |
| Location | Pendik district, Asian side of Istanbul |
| Distance to City Center | ~32-40 km southeast of Taksim |
| Elevation | 95 m / 312 ft |
| Runways | 2 (3,000m & 3,500m) |
| Terminals | 1 (serves both domestic & international) |
| Annual Capacity | 46,000,000 |
| 2025 Passengers | 48,407,318 (+17%) |
| 2025 Aircraft Movements | 275,537 (+14%) |
| Ranking (Europe) | 9th busiest |
| Airlines Served | 23 scheduled airlines |
Historical Background & Development
The airport was constructed to relieve the growing pressure on Istanbul’s European-side airports . It opened in January 2001 with a modest capacity of 3.5 million passengers annually .
Key milestones include:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Consortium (Limak, GMR, MAHB) took over operations |
| 2009 | New 25-million-capacity terminal inaugurated |
| 2010 | Voted “World’s Best Airport” at World Low Cost Airlines Congress |
| 2022 | M4 metro line extended directly to the airport |
| 2023 | Second runway inaugurated (25 December) |
| 2025 | Night curfew lifted on 10 October, allowing 24/7 operations |
📊 Passenger Statistics
The airport has experienced remarkable growth, more than tripling its traffic since 2010 .
| Year | Total Passengers | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48,407,318 | +17% |
| 2024 | 41,449,044 | +13% |
| 2023 | 36,825,424 | +20% |
| 2022 | 30,737,854 | +23% |
| 2019 | 35,560,610 | +4% |
The airport targets becoming a global transfer hub , having added 29 new routes in 2025 and expanding its network to 154 destinations in 55 countries .
🏢 Facilities
Single Terminal Operation: All domestic and international flights operate from one terminal under the same roof, allowing for seamless connections and short walking distances .
Facilities include:
-
112 check-in and 24 online check-in counters
-
VIP building and CIP lounges
-
5,000 m² food court and 4,500 m² duty-free shopping area
-
400 m² conference centre
-
Hourly hotel and lounge (airside, opened Jan 2020)
Operational Highlights:
-
Two runways allow for significantly increased hourly capacity (from 40 to 80 aircraft movements)
-
Cargo terminal with capacity of 90,000+ tonnes
🛫 Airlines & Destinations
The airport serves as an operating base for:
-
Pegasus Airlines (primary carrier)
-
AJet (second biggest carrier)
Other key carriers include Qatar Airways, Flynas, and Air Arabia Group . The network covers:
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39 domestic destinations
-
114+ international destinations across Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, and beyond
🚆 Getting to and from the Airport
Metro
-
M4 Metro Line connects directly to the airport from Kadıköy (Asian side city center) in ~50 minutes
-
M10 Line (under construction, opening 2026) will link to Pendik station for Marmaray and high-speed trains
Road
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Accessible via the E80 European motorway
-
Havaist shuttle buses serve Taksim and Kadıköy
-
IETT public buses and coaches to nearby cities
-
Taxis and private transfers available
❗ Key Travel Note
Golden Rule: If your hotel is on Istanbul’s European side (Taksim, Sultanahmet), choose Istanbul Airport (IST). If on the Asian side (Kadıköy, Üsküdar), choose Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Crossing between continents can take 75-120 minutes during peak traffic