Hire a Private Jet to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport is not only the largest international airport in Turkey, it is also one of the largest airports in Europe and the wider world. With its own exclusive terminal for private and charter flights and a host of services for VIP guests, IST Airport offers a premium of comfort and luxury, whatever your destination.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport: An Airport with a Long History
Istanbul Ataturk Airport is one of two international airports in the Turkish metropolis. The airport was first built in 1912 and remained for several decades the only international airport in Istanbul. It was only after Sabiha Gökçen Airport was opened in 2001, to cope with the ever-increasing volume of passengers to Istanbul, that IST Airport faced any competition for air travel in the region. The airport was further expanded by the construction of a third terminal, which serves international air travel to this day. The former international terminal is now used exclusively for domestic flights, whilst the remaining and oldest terminal is reserved for the handling of airfreight.
Despite the measures to cope with the increasing volume of people passing through Istanbul Ataturk Airport, passenger figures regularly exceed the airport’s capacity. From 2010 to 2015 alone, the number of international passengers to the airport rose from 20.3 million to a staggering 41.9 million, whilst domestic passengers rose from 11.8 million to 19.4 million in the same period. For this reason, construction of a third airport started in 2014. This airport was put into partial operation in 2018 and is expected to be completed by 2020.
Istanbul IST Airport Location
Distances from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to:
- Istanbul World Trade Centre: approx. 1 kilometre by car
- CNR Expo (conference centre): approx. 1 kilometre by car
- Sultanahmet (old town): approx. 15 kilometres by car
- Taksim Square (city centre): approx. 25 kilometres by car
Flexible and Comfortable: Private Jets at Istanbul Ataturk Airport
Even though countless scheduled flights pass through the airport, there are plenty of good reasons to charter a private jet to Istanbul Ataturk. First and foremost, private jet passengers avoid the long waiting times for check-in and security checks. Commercial flights to and from IST Airport are often very busy, so the extra cost of a private jet from Istanbul Airport is often worthwhile for business travellers. Furthermore, business travellers benefit from exclusive services such as:
- A separate gate for charter and private aircraft (General Aviation Terminal)
- Quick and efficient security and passport controls
- Two separate lounges for domestic and international flights
- Meeting rooms of various sizes and equipment
- Exclusive gastronomic offers
- Free Wi-Fi and important international news media
Aside from the benefits of private jet travel, the city of Istanbul, with its historic old town and rich cultural history, is always worth a visit. Even if you are just passing through, Istanbul is a worthwhile destination as Istanbul Ataturk Airport is an important hub from which you can easily reach many major cities in Europe and Asia. From IST Airport, the following top destinations in Turkey can be reached in no time at all:
- Istanbul Ataturk ✈ Ankara Esenboğa (LTAC / ESB): approx. 55 minutes
- Istanbul Ataturk ✈ Milas Bodrum (LTFE / BJV): approx. 1 hour
- Istanbul Ataturk ✈ Izmir Adnan Menderes (LTBJ/ADB): approx. 55 minutes
- Istanbul Ataturk ✈ Gaziantep Oğuzeli (LTAJ/GZT): approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
- Istanbul Ataturk ✈ Antalya (LTAI/ AYT): approx. 1 hour
Do you have to travel outside the Turkish capital for business commitments? With a charter flight from Istanbul, you can reach Esenboğa Airport (ESB) in about 55 minutes. Ankara city centre is roughly 30 minutes by car from Esenboğa Airport. Business interests aside, Ankara offers a wealth of interesting sights and famous landmarks, such as the Ataturk Mausoleum or the Kocatepe Mosque. If, on the other hand, you want to spend a few days in the south-east of Turkey after sightseeing in Istanbul, Bodrum-Milas Airport (BJV) is an excellent spot. The flight from Istanbul to Bodrum Airport only takes one hour, and after you have covered the short distance to Bodrum (about 35 kilometres away), you can recover from the hustle and bustle of city life by going swimming, surfing, and diving on the coast. Izmir is the third largest economic and industrial centre in Turkey after Ankara and Istanbul, and can be reached in 55 minutes on a private jet from Istanbul. Furthermore, Izmir is a worthwhile destination for lovers of Turkish culture, as it is home to the world-famous Agora and the Hisar Mosque. Izmir also serves as the starting point for excursions to the ancient Ephesus and Pergamon sites.
Charter Flights at Istanbul Ataturk
Owing to an annual flight movement turnover of 447,159 (as of 2015) and as a hub for flights between Asia and Europe, Istanbul Ataturk Airport is comfortably one of the largest airports in Europe. In 2016, in terms of passenger volume, IST Airport came fifth after London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt Airport.
As the airport’s three runways are approved for all current aircraft types and weight classes, you can fly any class of private jet to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Two of the runways are arranged in north-south direction, whilst the third runs east-west. This means aircraft can safely take off and land at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport in variable wind conditions.
| Runway | Length and width | Surface |
| 05/23 | 2,600 m x 60 m | Concrete |
| 17R/35L | 3,000 m x 45 m | Concrete |
| 17L/35R | 3,000 m x 45 m | Concrete |
Book your exclusive charter flight to and from Istanbul Ataturk with JetApp. See for yourself how comfortable travelling is when the flight time, amenities, and aircraft are tailored to your needs.
Airport Facts
- Airport code: LTBA / IST
- Surface area: 947 ha
- Altitude: 50 m (164 ft) above MSL
- Passengers per year: 61,323,729 (2015)
- Aircraft types: all common aircraft and weight classes
- Runway operating hours: 24/7
- Runways: 3 (2 x 3,000 m, 2,600 m)
Top Connections
- Esenboğa Airport (Turkey)
- Milas Bodrum Airport (Turkey)
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Turkey)
- Adnan Menderes Airport (Turkey)
- Gaziantep Airport (Turkey)
- Antalya Airport (Turkey)
- Dalaman Airport (Turkey)
- Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (Turkey)
- Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (Greece)
- Paris Le Bourget Airport (France)
- Mikonos Airport (Greece)
- Heydar Aliyev Airport (Azerbaijan)
- London Luton Airport (UK)
- Erbil Airport (Iraq)
- King Khaled Airport (Saudi Arabia)
