Antalya Airport (IATA: AYT, ICAO: LTAI) is Turkey’s primary gateway to the Turkish Riviera and a major hub for European summer tourism. Opened in 1960, it has grown into one of the busiest airports in the region, serving over 39 million passengers in 2025 . This guide provides a comprehensive overview of its history, infrastructure, and operational details.
Key Airport Information
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| IATA Code | AYT |
| ICAO Code | LTAI |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Owner | General Directorate of State Airports (DHMİ) |
| Operator | Fraport TAV Antalya Terminal İşletmeciliği A.Ş. |
| Location | 13 km (8.1 miles) northeast of Antalya city center |
| Elevation | 177 ft / 54 m |
| Runways | 18L/36R: 3,400 m (Concrete) 18C/36C: 3,400 m (Concrete) 18R/36L: 2,990 m (Asphalt) |
| Annual Capacity | 82 million passengers |
| 2025 Passengers | 39,000,177 (+2% from 2024) |
| 2025 Aircraft Movements | 240,141 (+3% from 2024) |
| Ranking (Turkey) | Third-busiest airport |
| Ranking (Middle East) | Seventh-busiest airport (as of 2025) |
Historical Background & Development
The airport was initially built for military purposes and opened for civilian passenger traffic in 1960, when Turkish Airlines began regular flights to Istanbul and Ankara using a small terminal building .
Key development milestones include:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1985 | First international terminal (37,000 m²) opened; the original terminal was converted to domestic use . |
| 1998 | International Terminal 1 (constructed by Bayindir Holding) opened . |
| 2005 | International Terminal 2 (82,000 m²) and a new runway opened, making Antalya the first Turkish airport with simultaneous parallel landings and takeoffs . |
| 2007 | Fraport AG and IC İçtaş won the concession to operate the airport terminals until 2024; TAV Havalimanları joined as an equal partner in 2018 . |
| 2010 | The new domestic terminal opened . |
| 2011 | Awarded “Best Airport in Europe” (10–25 million passengers category) by Airports Council International (ACI) . |
Recent Expansion
Following the inauguration of new domestic and international terminals, the airport has more than doubled its capacity to 82 million passengers annually, making it Turkey’s second-largest airport by capacity .
Terminals
Antalya Airport features three passenger terminals :
| Terminal | Primary Function |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (International) | Handles some international flights and domestic arrivals . |
| Terminal 2 (International) | Serves the majority of international flights . |
| Terminal 3 (Domestic) | Dedicated solely to domestic flights . |
Domestic Terminal (Terminal 3) Details
The domestic terminal is the sole facility for domestic services and is divided into three levels :
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Ground Floor: Baggage claim, arrivals hall, check-in area with shops, cafés, ATMs, taxi rank, and medical care.
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First Floor: Passport control, shops, cafés, restaurants, restrooms, a prayer room, and a smoking area.
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Second Floor: Departures, gate area (Gates 8-15), and lounges.
Terminal Connections
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Terminal 1 and Domestic Terminal are connected by a walkway .
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Terminal 2 is located 2.5 miles away; passengers must use the Bus Route 600 (every 30 minutes), a taxi, or a car to transfer .
Services & Amenities
The airport offers a wide range of passenger services, including:
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ATMs & Currency exchange
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Baby care facilities & Children’s area
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Duty-free shops & Restaurants
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Medical services & Pharmacy
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Free Wi-Fi & Information desk
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Luggage storage & Wrapping
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Prayer rooms & Smoking terraces
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Post office
Lounges
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CIP Lounge: Near Gate 7, open 24 hours, offering snacks, Wi-Fi, and reading materials .
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Turkish Airlines THY CIP Lounge: Departures area, open from first to last departure, offering snacks, alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, and a children’s area .
Airlines and Destinations
Antalya Airport serves as a major hub for several airlines and is an operating base for many carriers :
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Turkish Airlines (Focus city)
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AnadoluJet
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Corendon Airlines
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Freebird Airlines
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Pegasus Airlines
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SunExpress
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AJet
Key Destinations (Selected Examples)
The airport connects to 229 destinations in 52 countries . Below is a sample of destinations served by Pegasus Airlines from Antalya :
| Region | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Turkey | Istanbul (SAW), Ankara, Trabzon, Kayseri, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Samsun, Mersin |
| Germany | Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover |
| United Kingdom | London (STN) |
| Russia | Moscow (VKO), Saint Petersburg |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam |
| Switzerland | Zurich, Geneva |
| Cyprus | Ercan (ECN) |
| Kazakhstan | Almaty, Astana, Shymkent |
| Other | Tbilisi (Georgia), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Chisinau (Moldova), Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) |
Passenger Statistics
Passenger traffic has grown significantly, with 2025 marking a strong recovery:
| Year | Total Passengers | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39,000,177 | +2% |
| 2024 | ~38,000,000+ (est.) | — |
| 2008 | ~19,000,000 | — |
| 2003 | 10,000,000 | — |
Sources: ACI Europe, Wikipedia
Getting to and from the Airport
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Bus Route 600: Connects Terminal 1 and the Domestic Terminal to Terminal 2 and the city .
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Taxi: Available at the taxi rank outside the terminals .
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Shuttle Services: Available for convenient transfers .
Environmental Impact
The airport and its flights were estimated to have emitted 1.87 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in 2023 .
Awards and Recognition
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2011: “Best Airport in Europe” (10–25 million passengers category) by ACI .
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2010: Ranked 23rd globally for international passenger traffic