Hire a Private Jet to Istanbul SAW Airport
Istanbul SAW Airport is a high-traffic hub, not just because Istanbul connects business centres in Europe and Asia, but also because the city on the Bosporus is considered the cultural capital of Turkey. The airport offers a comprehensive service for travelling by private jet to and from Istanbul.
History of Istanbul SAW Airport
Opened in 2001, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport is the second largest international airport in Turkey’s largest city. The airport is named after the daughter of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic following World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Sabiha Gökçen began flight training in 1935 and was the first Turkish woman to become a pilot. She also underwent military training to become the first female combat pilot in the world.
In the initial years after its opening, SAW Airport relieved congestion at Ataturk Airport, but has itself since recorded a steady increase in passenger numbers. The airport was constructed as a cornerstone of a large-scale infrastructure project, namely the Industrial Park of Advanced Technology. This project created space for many multinational companies to establish offices in Istanbul. The number of passengers passing through Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen rose from 250,000 in the first years of operation to 29 million (as of 2015). To meet the rapid increase in demand, the airport’s operating company added new terminals for domestic flights and international connections. In 2009, architects from the renowned Doğan Tekeli Sisa Mimarlık Ofisi firm designed and oversaw construction of a new modern terminal This welcoming building makes optimal use of daylight and provides plenty of space for visitors and services.
Istanbul SAW Airport Location
Distances from Istanbul SAW to:
- Taksim: approx. 66 kilometres by car
- Topkapı Palace: approx. 67 kilometres by car
- Ayasofya Mosque: approx. 49 kilometres by car
- Sapphire Centre: approx. 52 kilometres by car
Charter Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
Sabiha Gokcen SAW is the smaller of the two international airports serving Istanbul, located approximately 40 kilometres from Istanbul’s city centre on the Asian side, which lies south of the Bosporus.
Turkey’s second busiest airport is used primarily for domestic flights as well as connections to the Russian Commonwealth. Flying with a private jet from Istanbul offers a maximum of flexibility, whatever your destination. With a charter flight from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, any destination is possible. The following domestic flights within Turkey are the most popular:
- Istanbul SAW ✈ Ankara Esenboğa (LTAC / ESB): approx. 52 minutes
- Istanbul SAW ✈ Bodrum Airport (LTFE / BJV): approx. 1 hour
- Istanbul SAW ✈ Izmir Airport (LTBJ / ADB): approx. 54 minutes
- Istanbul SAW ✈ Dalaman Airport (LTBS / DLM): approx. 1 hour 3 minutes
- Istanbul SAW ✈ Antalya Airport (LTAI / AYT): approx. 1 hour 2 minutes
Not far from the Turkish capital city, the sizable Ankara Esenboğa airport is approximately 52 minutes by private jet from Istanbul. A flight from Istanbul SAW to Bodrum Airport in the province of Muğla, with its popular resort towns on the Aegean Coast, takes an hour. A business flight to Izmir – Turkey’s third largest city and economic centre – takes just under an hour. Athens and Nice are the most popular international airport destinations from Istanbul SAW, with the Greek capital an hour away and Nice two and a half hours.
The runways at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport are suited for both short distance jets as well as larger commercial aircraft.
Istanbul SAW Airport Runways
| Runway | Length and width | Surface |
| 06/24 | 3,000 m x 45 m | Concrete |
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Flights by Private Jet
The terminal buildings at Istanbul SAW cover a considerable area – 320,000 square metres to be exact – including a terminal for domestic flights and another for international flights. The airport’s main building boasts numerous shops, restaurants, and lounge areas for visitors to enjoy. The following facilities and services are available for passengers connecting to flights in the main terminals:
- Fast-track service
- VIP areas
- Conference rooms
- Cafés and restaurants
- Duty free shopping in the departure and arrival halls
- Hotel close to the airport buildings
- Four carparks
The fast track service at Istanbul SAW Airport allows VIP passengers to quickly check in and pass through security checks. The airport’s VIP areas, such as the ISG International CIP Lounge and ISG Domestic CIP Lounge, serve passengers on international or domestic flights respectively, allowing guests a comfortable and relaxing wait or stop over. The air-conditioned lounges have internet access, computers, and high definition televisions. Private jet passengers can book meeting rooms as well as the use of a conference centre with a capacity for 200 people. Catering is also available upon request.
The ISG Airport Hotel is only three minutes from the terminal building and can be comfortably reached on foot. There are separate entrances for guests arriving by land or by air. In addition to the standard rooms are 12 suites as well as meeting rooms and a fitness centre. Massage appointments are also available. The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen’s shopping experience includes numerous shops and boutiques offering high-end cosmetics or electronics, as well as handcrafted Turkish items. Clothing stores include Calvin Klein, Dior and Gucci.
Of course, private jet passengers who are not coming from a connecting flight can make their way directly to the General Aviation Terminal, where separate check-in and security controls make for quick and hassle-free boarding.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers
For onward travel into the city centre, a hire car service is available. If you prefer, a chauffeured limousine can also be arranged to take you directly to your meeting or hotel. Typically, the journey takes between an hour and an hour and a half, depending on traffic.
Discover the Delights of Istanbul with a Private Jet to Istanbul SAW Airport
Arriving at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, visitors can look forward to an exciting stay in one of the world’s most vibrant and historically important cultural and business centres – a mixture of Eastern and Western influences both past and present. From the Ottoman Empire to its current business boom, the city has long attracted international traders and investors. Its most important business districts are Levent und Göktürk.
From a cultural point of view, there are few cities in the world as fascinating as Istanbul. Marvel at the architecture and visually stunning interiors of the Sultan Ahmed (Blue Mosque) and Süleymaniye Mosque, not to mention the city’s most famous landmark, the Hagia Sofia. Other important monuments include the former residence of the Sultan, Topkapı Palace, and the ancient water reservoir, the Basilica Cistern. Starting at Zolotoy Rog (Golden Horn Bay) in the European district, a whole other side of Istanbul can be explored by yacht. For a peek into the world of Turkish art, Istanbul Modern features a permanent collection from the 19th to 21st century, while the International Istanbul Biennial draws important artists and art-lovers from all over the world.
Airport Facts
- Airport code: LTFJ / SAW
- Altitude: 95 m (312 ft) above MSL
- Aircraft movements per year: 218,780 (2015)
- Aircraft types: all common aircraft and weight classes
- Runway operating hours: 24/7
- Runways: 1 (3,000 m)
Top Connections
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport (Turkey)
- Bodrum Airport (Turkey)
- Istanbul Ataturk Airport (Turkey)
- Izmir Airport (Turkey)
- Dalaman Airport (Turkey)
- Antalya Airport (Turkey)
- Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (Greece)
- Nice Airport (France)
- Paris Le Bourget (France)
- London Farnborough (UK)
- London Luton Airport (UK)
- Balikesir Koca Seyit Airport (Turkey)
- Mykonos Airport (Greece)
- Gaziantep Airport (Turkey)
- Geneva Airport (Switzerland)
