Located in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, north of the city center near the Black Sea coast, Istanbul Airport is Turkey's largest airport. Serving over 84 million passengers in 2025, it stands as the busiest airport in Europe and the eighth-busiest globally, offering regular flights to up to 122 countries worldwide.
The airport operates as the primary global hub for Turkish Airlines, following the complete transfer of passenger flights from Atatürk Airport in April 2019. Currently, all operations are housed under one massive main terminal building, which is designed with five active concourses to keep domestic and international travelers moving efficiently.
01 Terminals & concourses
The single active terminal handles domestic flights at Concourse G and international flights at Concourses A, B, D, and F.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at IST
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from IST
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Metro | The M11 metro line connects the airport eastward to Gayrettepe and westward to Arnavutköy and Halkalı. |
| Bus | Public IETT and Havaist buses provide regular passenger service between the airport and the city. |
| Car and Taxi | Accessible via the O-7 motorway or D.020 highway, with 24-hour taxis available taking about an hour to the city center. |
| Rail | Planned mainline rail routes will eventually link the airport to Çatalca, Halkalı, and Gebze. |
04 Lounges & amenities
The airport complex features frequent-flyer and VIP lounges alongside prayer rooms, hotels, and convention facilities.
Istanbul Airport in pictures
