Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus about 30 km (19 miles) southeast of Üsküdar, the Kadıköy ferry dock, and the Harem intercity bus terminal (map).
Located between the suburbs of Kurtköy and Pendik, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport serves the full range of flights including international flights by major airlines, but it is still considered Istanbul's "second airport" after the newer Istanbul Airport (IST).
Airport to City Center Transport
Transport between Sabiha Gökçen Airport and the center of Istanbul is by city bus, Havataş Airport Bus, excellent private transfer service, public transport (bus, Metro Marmaray), taxi, shuttle van, and car rental.
To/From Istanbul Pendik YHT High-Speed Train Station
It's pretty easy to travel between Sabiha Gökçen Airport and the Istanbul, Pendik Train Terminus for YHT High-Speed Trains from Ankara, Eskişehir and Konya because the airport and the train station are in the same area.
Food & Drink-Expensive!
Note that prices for food and drink at Turkish airports tend to be high. My quick informal survey showed them to be 40% higher than at expensive Frankfurt Airport, and twice as high as at pricey Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Airport Lounges
If you're a user of airport lounges or airline clubs, Sabiha Gökçen has them. By using them you can await your flight in a more comfortable environment and save money on those expensive drinks.
Sabiha Gökçen and Atatürk
Airport History
The airport is named for Ms Sabiha Gökçen (1913-2001), the world's first female fighter pilot. In her long career as a pilot and teacher she flew 22 different combat and aerobatics aircraft, and was the first woman to fly the Focke Wulfe 190-A3. Visit the Sabiha Gökçen Airport website for more on this remarkable pilot.
Ms Gökçen's pioneering work was made possible because of Kemal Atatürk's social reforms, which emphasized equal rights and opportunities for women, and the importance of flight. Turks in the air travel and aircraft industries eagerly quote Atatürk's prescient saying, "The future is in the skies."
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
34912 Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey
SAWCare Call Center: +90 444 3 729
ISG Management Phone : +90 216 588 80 00
ISG Management Fax : +90 216.588 80 10
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