Istanbul Airport (IST) Arnavutköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul Airport (IST) is the main international airport serving Istanbul, Türkiye. It is located in Arnavutköy on the European side of Istanbul and is operated by İGA Havalimanı İşletmesi A.Ş. (iGA). The airport uses the IATA code IST and ICAO code LTFM. Scheduled passenger operations were transferred from the former Istanbul Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport in April 2019.
Istanbul Airport — Quick Facts
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Airport name | Istanbul Airport / İstanbul Havalimanı |
| IATA code | IST |
| ICAO code | LTFM |
| Airport type | Public international airport |
| City served | Istanbul, Türkiye |
| District | Arnavutköy |
| Side of Istanbul | European side |
| Operator | İGA Havalimanı İşletmesi A.Ş. |
| Owner | General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ) |
| Opened | 29 October 2018 |
| Full passenger operations began | 6 April 2019 |
| Passenger terminals | One main passenger terminal |
| International concourses | A, B, D and F |
| Domestic concourse | G |
| Airport operating hours | 24 hours |
| Time zone | Türkiye Time (UTC+3) |
| Primary airline hub | Turkish Airlines |
| Official website | Istanbul Airport official website |
| Wikipedia | Istanbul Airport — Wikipedia |
The airport operates around the clock. DHMİ lists the airport’s official contact number as +90 212 891 91 91, while iGA’s passenger/customer contact channel is 444 1 442 (+90 444 1 442).
Istanbul Airport Important Contact Numbers
The following are the most useful numbers to keep available when travelling through IST.
| Purpose | Telephone / Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| iGA Istanbul Airport customer service / information | 444 1 442 / +90 444 1 442 | Main iGA passenger contact |
| Istanbul Airport / DHMİ | +90 212 891 91 91 | Official airport/DHMİ switchboard |
| DHMİ Communication Centre | 444 34 64 | General State Airports Authority contact |
| Türkiye Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure call centre | 444 24 07 | Government transport information |
| Airport emergency line | 444 1 442 → press 0, then emergency code | iGA’s airport SOS system |
| General emergency in Türkiye | 112 | Emergency services |
| iGA customer relations email | ist@igairport.aero | Passenger/customer relations |
| DHMİ Istanbul Airport email | bilgi.istanbul@dhmi.gov.tr | Airport authority contact |
| Airport address | Tayakadın Mah. Terminal Cad. No:1, Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Türkiye | Main airport address |
The iGA contact information identifies 444 1 442 as its customer-service number and ist@igairport.aero as customer relations. DHMİ separately lists +90 212 891 91 91 for Istanbul Airport.
Airport emergency procedure
iGA’s published airport safety bulletin gives a specific emergency procedure:
444 1 442 → press 0 → select the emergency type:
| Code | Emergency |
|---|---|
| 1 | First aid / medical emergency |
| 2 | Fire |
| 3 | Police / security |
| 4 | Accident |
Concourse layout
| Concourse | Primary use | Key information |
|---|---|---|
| A | International | International boarding gates |
| B | International | International boarding gates |
| D | International | International boarding gates |
| F | International | Primarily international; some domestic operations may use designated gates |
| G | Domestic | Main domestic boarding area |
| C / E | Integrated areas | Not separate standalone concourses |
Istanbul Airport Lost & Found
If you lose an item at IST, first determine where the item was lost.
If it was lost inside the airport
Contact iGA customer services: 444 1 442 and ask for the relevant Lost & Found procedure.
If it was lost on the aircraft
Contact the airline, rather than assuming the airport’s Lost & Found department has the item.
If baggage did not arrive
For checked baggage that did not arrive on your flight, contact your airline’s baggage service/lost-baggage desk and retain your baggage tag and PIR/reference documentation.
Istanbul Airport Emergency Information
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Medical emergency | 112 or iGA emergency line |
| Fire | 112 or iGA emergency line |
| Police/security emergency | 112 or iGA emergency line |
| Accident inside airport | iGA emergency line / 112 |
| Immediate danger | Call 112 |
| Airport-specific emergency | 444 1 442 → 0 → appropriate code |
| General airport information | 444 1 442 |
| Airport authority | +90 212 891 91 91 |
Istanbul Airport FAQs
1. What is the Istanbul Airport code?
The IATA code is IST and the ICAO code is LTFM.
2. Where is Istanbul Airport located?
It is in Arnavutköy, on the European side of Istanbul, Türkiye.
3. Is Istanbul Airport the old Atatürk Airport?
No. Istanbul Airport is the newer airport that took over scheduled commercial passenger operations from Istanbul Atatürk Airport in April 2019.
4. Does Istanbul Airport have Terminal 1 and Terminal 2?
No. Normal domestic and international passenger operations are handled within one main passenger terminal.
5. What is the domestic terminal at Istanbul Airport?
There is no separate domestic terminal. Concourse G is the principal domestic concourse within the main terminal.
6. Which concourses handle international flights?
International flights primarily use A, B, D and F.
7. Which concourse handles domestic flights?
Concourse G is primarily designated for domestic flights.
8. What is Istanbul Airport’s main phone number?
The iGA passenger/customer-service number is 444 1 442.
9. What is Istanbul Airport’s official airport-authority phone number?
DHMİ lists +90 212 891 91 91 as the Istanbul Airport contact number.
10. What number should I call in an emergency at Istanbul Airport?
For an immediate emergency, 112 is the general emergency number in Türkiye. For an airport-specific emergency, iGA publishes 444 1 442 → 0 → emergency code.
11. Is Istanbul Airport open 24 hours?
Yes. DHMİ lists Istanbul Airport as operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.
12. Is there a metro station at Istanbul Airport?
Yes. Istanbul Airport is served by the M11 metro connection, linking the airport with Istanbul’s rail network.
13. How early should I arrive at Istanbul Airport?
For international travel, arriving around 3 hours before departure is a sensible general planning guideline, particularly during busy periods. Domestic passengers can often require less time, but queues, baggage, security and airport walking distances can vary.
Your airline’s specific check-in/bag-drop deadline should take priority.
14. Is Istanbul Airport very large?
Yes. It is a very large airport complex with an extensive single-terminal passenger building and multiple concourses. The scale means that walking from the central terminal area to a distant gate can take substantial time.
15. Do I need to take a train between concourses?
No internal inter-terminal train is required, because the concourses are connected to the same terminal complex. Passengers generally walk, using moving walkways where available.
16. Can I sleep at Istanbul Airport?
Yes. The airport operates around the clock and has hotels/rest facilities and paid passenger services. Availability, pricing and access conditions can vary.
17. Does Istanbul Airport have Wi-Fi?
Yes, Wi-Fi services are available at the airport. Access procedures can change, so follow the airport’s current instructions when connecting.
18. What should I do if my luggage is missing?
Report the problem to your airline’s baggage service immediately and retain your baggage tag/reference documentation. Airport facilities can assist with the appropriate process, but the airline generally handles checked-baggage irregularities.
19. Can I change from a domestic to international flight at IST?
Yes, Istanbul Airport is designed as a major transfer hub. However, domestic-to-international connections can involve additional security, passport and/or baggage procedures depending on your ticket and itinerary.
20. Is IST the same as SAW?
No. IST is Istanbul Airport in Arnavutköy on the European side. SAW is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on the Asian side.