Atatürk Airport Explained

Atatürk Airport
Nativename:	Turkish: Atatürk Havalimanı
Mapframe:	yes
Mapframe-Wikidata:	yes
Iata:	ISL
Icao:	LTBA
Type:	Defunct
Owner:	General Directorate of State Airports (DHMİ)
Operator:	TAV Airports
City-Served:	Istanbul, Turkey
Opened:	^[1]
Elevation-F:	163
Elevation-M:	50
Coordinates:	40.9761°N 28.8142°W
Website:	(archived on 8 February 2020)
Pushpin Map:	Istanbul#Turkey#Europe#North Atlantic
Pushpin Label:	ISL
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location within Istanbul
Metric-Rwy:	Yes
R1-Number:	05/23
R1-Length-F:	8,465
R1-Length-M:	2,580
R1-Surface:	Grooved asphalt
Stat-Year:	2019
Stat1-Header:	Total passengers
Stat1-Data:	16,112,804^[2]
Stat2-Header:	International passengers
Stat2-Data:	11,876,601
Footnotes:	Source: Turkish AIP at Eurocontrol Turkey^[3]

Atatürk Airport is an airport currently in use for private jets. It used to be the primary international airport of Istanbul and the hub of Turkish Airlines until it was closed to commercial passenger flights on 6 April 2019. From that point, all passenger flights were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport.^{[4] [5]}

History

Growth and development

In 1911, a small apron with two hangars was built in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, for the Ottoman Armed Forces.^[6] Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti (Turkish Aircraft Company, today Türk Hava Kurumu - THK) in 1925. In 1933, today's Turkish Airlines, the Türkiye Devlet Hava Yolları started its flights with two Curtiss Kingbird aircraft. Flights from Istanbul to Ankara and Athens began. The small apron was expanded and a new passenger terminal was built. This is considered the beginning of the airport's 86-year history. It was originally named Yeşilköy Airport. In the 1980s, it was renamed Atatürk International Airport.

It served more than 60 million passengers in 2015, making it the 11th-busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic and the 10th-busiest in the world in terms of international passenger traffic. In 2017, it was Europe's 5th-busiest airport after London–Heathrow, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt Airport, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, having fallen from third place after a decline in passengers due to security fears.^[7]

Closure

Istanbul Atatürk Airport was replaced in regards to commercial passenger functions by the newly constructed Istanbul Airport, in April 2019, in order to meet Istanbul's growing domestic and international air traffic demand as a source, destination, and transit point. Both airports were used in parallel for five months from late 2018, with the new airport gradually expanding to serve more domestic and regional destinations.^[8] On 6 April 2019, Atatürk's IST IATA airport code was inherited by Istanbul Airport and Atatürk Airport was assigned the code ISL after the full transfer of all scheduled passenger activities to the new airport was completed.^[9] The final commercial flight, Turkish Airlines Flight 54, left Atatürk Airport on 6 April 2019 at 2:44am for Singapore.^[10]

On 5 February 2022, Turkish Cargo relocated all cargo flights and operations from their former hub at the airport to the new Istanbul Airport.^{[11] [12]}

Atatürk Airport National Garden

Turkey's government announced its plans to construct a giant park on the grounds of the former Istanbul Atatürk Airport (whose operations were transferred to the new Istanbul Airport) in 2019.^[13] The park is part of a larger urban transformation plan that seeks to correct some of the haphazard urban planning that characterised most major Turkish cities since the 1970s.^[14] Due to the little space available to construct or expand green spaces, new parks are often constructed on spots formerly occupied by factories or other major facilities.

The Atatürk Airport National Garden will be constructed on and around one of the two runways of Atatürk Airport.^[15] These runways were already rendered unusable after they were chosen as the site for Istanbul's pandemic hospital in early 2020.^[16] More than 132,500 trees are to be planted in place of the asphalt runway and taxiways that will also help to keep the city cooler. The other runway is set to remain in use for select cargo and private jet flights, aviation fairs (such as Teknofest) and for use by the Turkish Air Force (which still maintains a small training base and museum here).

The leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called the proposed construction of the park ''treason'' and threatened to hold those responsible to account.^[17]

Facilities

Former passenger terminals

Istanbul Atatürk Airport featured two passenger terminals linked to each other.^[18] The former domestic terminal is the older and smaller of the two terminals and exclusively handled domestic flights within Turkey. It featured its own check-in and airside facilities on the upper floor, with twelve departure gates equipped with jet bridges^[18] and five baggage claim belts on the ground level.^[18] The former international terminal was inaugurated in 2000 and used for all international flights. It featured a large main hall containing 8 check-in aisles and a wide range of airside facilities such as shops and restaurants, 34 gates equipped with jet bridges, and 7 bus-boarding stands. The arrivals floor had 11 baggage claim belts.^[18] In addition, there is a general aviation terminal to the northwest of the passenger terminals.^[19]

Former cargo terminal

The airport featured a dedicated cargo terminal including facilities for the handling of radioactive and refrigerated freight.^[20]

Other facilities

• Turkish Airlines has its headquarters in the Turkish Airlines General Management Building, located within the airport campus.^{[21] [22]}
• Prima Aviation Services Inc. has its MRO facilities in new technical site at the air side Gate A.^[23]
• In May 2020, the Yeşilköy Prof. Dr. Murat Dilmener Emergency Hospital using the former site of the 35L/35R runways were opened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.

Current operations

As of April 2019, all passenger operations have been relocated to the new Istanbul Airport. As of February 2022, all cargo operations have been relocated to the new airport as well.^[24] Currently, the airport serves only private and business jets as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey.

Statistics

Istanbul Atatürk Airport ranked 17th in ACI statistics at the end of 2011 in terms of international traffic with almost 24 million international passengers. It ranked 29th in the world in terms of total passenger traffic with over 37.4 million passengers in 2011. Its total traffic within the last decade more than tripled, and its international traffic quadrupled.^{[25] [26]} Passenger statistics for Istanbul Atatürk Airport for the years 2002–2019 are below.^[27]

Passenger statistics at Istanbul Atatürk Airport

Year	Domestic passengers	Passenger % change	International passenger	Passenger % change	Total passenger	Passenger % change	World rank international	World rank total
2019	4,236,203		11,876,601		16,112,804
2018^[28]	19,170,141	2	48,811,305	10	67,981,446	6	10th	17th
2017^[29]	19,450,347	2	44,277,101	7	63,727,448	5	11th	15th
2016	19,099,874	1	41,019,341	2	60,119,215	2	11th^[30]	14th^[31]
2015^[32]	19,375,402	4	41,947,327	10	61,322,729	8	10th^[33]	11th^[34]
2014	18,754,002	9	38,200,788	12	56,954,790^[35]	11	9th	13th^[36]
2013	17,224,105	13	34,096,770	14	51,320,875	14	10th	18th
2012	15,281,321		29,717,196		44,998,508		13th^[37]	21st^[38]
2011	13,604,352		23,847,835		37,452,187		17th	28th
2010	11,800,999		20,344,620		32,145,619		19th	37th
2009	11,393,645		18,363,739		29,757,384
2008	11,484,063		17,069,069		28,553,132
2007	9,595,923		13,600,306		23,196,229
2006	9,091,693		12,174,281		21,265,974
2005	7,512,282		11,781,487		19,293,769
2004	5,430,925		10,169,676		15,600,601
2003	3,196,045		8,908,268		12,104,342
2002	2,851,487		8,506,204		11,357,691

Accidents and incidents

• On 30 January 1975, Turkish Airlines Flight 345, crashed into the Sea of Marmara during its final approach to the airport. All 42 passengers and crew on board were killed.^[39]
• On 25 April 2015, Turkish Airlines Flight 1878, operated by an A320-200, TC-JPE was severely damaged in a landing accident. The aircraft aborted the first hard landing, which inflicted engine and gear damage. On the second attempt at landing, the right gear collapsed and the aircraft rolled off the runway spinning 180 degrees. All on board evacuated without injury.^[40]
• On 28 June 2016, three terrorists killed 44 civilians by gunfire and subsequent suicide bombings, along with 239 civilians injured.^{[41] [42]} The three men arrived in a taxi cab and opened fire at the terminal. The three men then blew themselves up when police opened fire. The airport has X-ray scanners at the entrance to the terminal but security checks for cars are limited.^{[41] [43]}
• On 15 July 2016, the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt took place. During the attempted coup, units of the Turkish Armed Forces seized control of the airport and closed it, but it was reopened after pro-government forces regained control.^{[44] [45] [46]}

Accolades

• The Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers lists İstanbul Atatürk Airport as one of the fifty civil engineering feats in Turkey, a list of remarkable engineering projects completed in the first 50 years of the chamber's existence.^[47]
• In the 2013 Air Transport News awards ceremony, İstanbul Atatürk Airport was named Airport of the Year.^[48]
• The airport was named Europe's Best Airport in the 40-50 million passenger per year category at the 2013 Skytrax World Airport Awards.^[49]

See also

• List of the busiest airports in Turkey
• List of the busiest airports in Europe
• List of the busiest airports in Europe (2010–2015)

External links

• (archived on 8 February 2020)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Atatürk Havalimanı. tr. 7 April 2018. 8 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180408073312/http://www.ataturk.dhmi.gov.tr/havaalanlari/sayfa.aspx?hv=1&mnu=684#.WsjPnpe-nIU. dead.
2. Web site: YOLCU TRAFİĞİ.
3. Web site: LTBA – Istanbul / Atatürk / International . part AD 2 LTBA . AIP Turkey . 5 January 2018 . Ankara . DHMİ Genel Müdürlüğü . 4 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030611040025/http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/ . 11 June 2003 .
4. News: Turkish Airlines aims to spread its wings at Istanbul's giant new airport. Reuters . 6 April 2019.
5. Web site: Full transfer of flights from Ataturk to new Istanbul hub begins. Flight Global . 6 April 2019.
6. Web site: EUROCONTROL - the European AIS Database: Introduction to EAD Basic - Home . 29 January 2019 .
7. Web site: 'Full' Heathrow Extends European Hub Lead as Terror Hurts Rivals. Bloomberg Business . 15 January 2016.
8. News: Kucukgocmen . Ali . 29 October 2018 . Erdogan opens new 'Istanbul Airport', Turkey's biggest . .
9. Web site: 2018-02-19 . Istanbul New Airport to affect entire European airspace . . en-US.
10. News: 6 April 2019 . Last flight leaves Ataturk as Istanbul switches airports . en . .
11. https://aircargoworld.com/news/airports/turkish-cargo-completes-transition-to-new-istanbul-airport/ aircargoworld.com - Turkish Cargo completes transition to new Istanbul Airport
12. Web site: 2022-02-08 . Turkish Cargo bids farewell to Atatürk Airport, shifts to new hub . Daily Sabah . en-US.
13. Web site: Ataturk Airport from a Global Airport to a Beach Park CCT Investments . 2023-03-19 . en-US.
14. Web site: SABAH . DAILY . 2020-06-05 . 10 new parks open as Turkey seeks to make cities greener . 2023-03-19 . Daily Sabah . en-US.
15. Web site: Discovery Istanbul: The green city . 2023-03-19 . www.petitfute.co.uk.
16. Web site: Oryx . Atatürk Airport National Garden - The Green Lung Of Istanbul . 2023-03-19 . Oryx.
17. Web site: Sabah . Daily . 2022-05-17 . Istanbul's old airport set to get green makeover amid opposition . 2023-03-19 . Daily Sabah . en-US.
18. Web site: Terminal Map. Ataturkairport.com. 12 May 2016. 23 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161123081346/http://www.ataturkairport.com/en-EN/preflight/Pages/AiportMap.aspx. dead.
19. Web site: General Aviation Terminal. Ataturekairport.com. 12 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180725060554/http://ataturkairport.com/en-EN/airportguide/Pages/GeneralAviationTerminal.aspx. 25 July 2018. dead.
20. Web site: Cargo Terminal. Ataturekairport.com. 12 May 2016. 30 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180630155903/http://www.ataturkairport.com/en-EN/airportguide/Pages/CargoTerminal.aspx. dead.
21. "Contact Us." Turkish Airlines. Retrieved on 26 June 2010.
22. "Map." Turkish Airlines. Retrieved on 26 June 2010.
23. http://www.primaaviation.comsin_eng.aspx "Communication".
24. News: Atatürk Havalimanı'nda kargo uçuşları sona erdi. (in Turkish). 2022-02-09.
25. Web site: ACI Europe 2007 Final Rankings. ACI-Europe.org. 30 September 2017.
26. Web site: International Passenger Traffic Monthly Ranking: Aug 2008. 12 November 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090101151222/http://www.airports.org/cda/aci_common/display/main/aci_content07_c.jsp?zn=aci&cp=1-5-212-1376_666_2__. 1 January 2009. Airports Council International.
27. Web site: Devlet Hava Meydanları İşletmesi Genel Müdürlüğü . Dhmi.gov.tr . 20 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180915044114/http://dhmi.gov.tr/istatistik.aspx . 15 September 2018 . dead .
28. Web site: December . January 2019. DHMI. 20 April 2019.
29. Web site: YOLCU TRAFİĞİ. https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063639/http://www.dhmi.gov.tr/getBinaryFile.aspx?Type=13&dosyaID=3&IstatistikID=129. dead. 6 January 2018. 6 January 2018. 23 January 2019.
30. Web site: ACI releases preliminary 2016 world airport traffic rankings—Robust gains in passenger traffic at hub airports serving trans-Pacific and East Asian routes. 19 April 2017. 4 August 2017. Airports Council International.
31. Web site: 2016 Annual Airport Traffic Report . Port Authority of New York and New Jersey . 28 April 2017 . 10 May 2017 . 25 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170525172312/http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf-traffic/ATR2016.pdf . dead .
32. Web site: Devlet Hava Meydanları İşletmesi Genel Müdürlüğü. DHMİ Genel Müdürlüğü. Dhmi.gov.tr. 5 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628154703/http://www.dhmi.gov.tr/istatistik.aspx. 28 June 2015. dead.
33. Web site: Year to date International Passenger Traffic: DEC 2015. 11 April 2016. 11 October 2016. Airports Council International. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151016215617/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/International-Passenger-Rankings/Year-to-date. dead.
34. Web site: Year to date Passenger Traffic. 11 October 2016. Airports Council International. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
    Web site: Year to date Passenger Traffic: DEC 2017. 30 April 2018. 12 September 2019. Airports Council International. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
35. Web site: Year to 2014 dec. passenger . Dhmi.gov.tr . 21 December 2014 . 21 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221001357/http://dhmi.gov.tr/getBinaryFile.aspx?Type=13&dosyaID=1&IstatistikID=91 . 21 December 2014 . dead .
36. Web site: Year to date Passenger Traffic. Airports Council International. 4 January 2013. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
    Web site: Year to date Passenger Traffic: DEC 2017. 30 April 2018. 12 September 2019. Airports Council International. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
37. Web site: Year to date. Airports Council International. 24 April 2013. 29 April 2013. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151016215617/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/International-Passenger-Rankings/Year-to-date. dead.
    Web site: Year to date International Passenger Traffic:DEC 2015. 11 April 2016. 12 September 2019. Airports Council International. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151016215617/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/International-Passenger-Rankings/Year-to-date. dead.
38. Web site: Year to date. Airports Council International. 24 April 2013. 29 April 2013. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
    Web site: Year to date Passenger Traffic: DEC 2017. 30 April 2018. 12 September 2019. Airports Council International. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813170044/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date. dead.
39. Web site: Aircraft accident Fokker F-28 Fellowship 1000 TC-JAP Istanbul-Yeşilköy Airport (IST) [Marmara Sea] ]. Aviation Safety Network . 31 July 2012 .
40. Web site: Accident: THY A320 at Istanbul on Apr 25th 2015, hard landing, go-around, engine problem, gear problem, gear collapse, runway excursion . Simon . Hradecky . Aviation Herald. 25 April 2015.
41. News: Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: 41 dead and more than 230 hurt - BBC News. BBC News. 29 June 2016. 30 June 2016.
42. News: Sabrina Tavernise . Ceylan Yeginsu . Attack at Istanbul Airport Leaves at Least 31 Dead . . 28 June 2016 . 29 June 2016.
43. News: Blast and gunfire 'at Istanbul airport'. BBC News . 28 June 2016 . 28 June 2016.
44. News: Turkey coup: How mobiles beat tanks and saved Erdogan. BBC News. 18 July 2016.
45. News: At height of Turkish coup bid, rebel jets had Erdogan's plane in their sights. Reuters. 18 July 2016. Coskun. Humeyra Pamuk.
46. Web site: TRT'de bildiri okuttular. 16 July 2016 .
47. Web site: 50 yılda 50 eser - HHPortal. Hhportal.com. 1 June 2015.
48. Web site: Air Transport News . https://web.archive.org/web/20130322050601/http://www.atn.aero/article.pl?mcateg=&id=42343 . dead . 22 March 2013 . Atn.aero . 18 March 2013 . 29 April 2013 .
49. Web site: World's Best Airports by Passenger Numbers | 2013 . Worldairportawards.com . 29 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130423093242/http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2013/bestsize.htm#40_50 . 23 April 2013 .