Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW IATA) is one of the two international airports serving Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. It is 35 km southeast of Istanbul center, on the Asian side of the city.
Understand
The 1 airport is named after Sabiha Gökçen, adopted daughter of Atatürk, the world's first female fighter pilot. It was built to relieve pressure on Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL IATA) on the European side. Low-cost carriers and charter airlines in particular use this airport. A new terminal opened in October 2009, expanding the airport's capacity to 25 million passengers per year.
Flights
There are direct connections to this airport from the German-speaking area, among other things. with the following lines: Germanwings, Condor, Pegasus Airlines, Sun Express and Turkish Airlines.
Ground transportation
By train
Arrival by train is not possible.
By bus
From Kadıköy ferry port, bus lines E10 and E11 run every 20 minutes to Sabiha Gökçen, fare 8 lira, duration approx. 1 hour (or longer in heavy traffic). The city bus routes are mainly used by Istanbul residents.
Much more comfortable is the HAVATAŞ Shuttle, which connects the airport with 3 HAVATAŞ Shuttle Taksım (departure opposite the Taksim Divan Hotel, in front of the Point Hotel) or the 4 HAVATAŞ Shuttle Kadıköy Kadıköy Ferry Port almost around the clock (3:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.) non-stop, fare 14 TL (2015). Departure time to/from Taksim is always on the hour and half hour, from/to Kadıköy always 15 minutes before/after the hour. The journey time to Taksim is approx. 1½ hours (or longer in heavy traffic).
Private minibus transfers are available from around €25 (up to 6 people).
By taxi
Istanbul Airport Transfer company offers taxi transfers to the airport, city and hotels at a fixed price. A taxi from Sabiha airport to Kadikoy, the center on the Asian side, costs around 50 TL.
By car
From the center of Istanbul, take the express roads E6 or E5, follow the signs to the airport and leave the express road at the Pendik/Kurtköy exit.
Parking
There are parking spaces for short and long-term parkers in front of the terminals. Payment can be made in cash or by credit card at the checkout. The fees: up to 1 hour 7 TL, up to 3 hours 9 TL, up to 6 hours 13 TL, up to 12 hours 17 TL, up to 24 hours 23 TL, up to 4 days 65 TL, up to 7 days 109 TL, up to 15 days 142 TL and up to 30 days 162 TL.
Sabiha Gökçen airport change
If you need to change between the two airports, you have the following options:
- From Sabiha Gökçen by public transport: Bus E10 or E11 to Kadıköy, then the ferry to Eminönü, then tram T1 to Zeytinburnu, then continue with the metro to Havalimani (airport). Pure travel time 3 - 4 hours, price 15 TL, delays in city traffic are possible and are only recommended with light luggage due to the sometimes long transfer routes that are not barrier-free.
- With the Havaş buses via the central transfer point near Taksim Square: journey time approx. 2½ hours, price 23 TL
- By taxi: travel time approx. 90 minutes, price approx. 70€.