Facilities Ranking
Safety Ranking
Environmental Ranking
• Region: Europe / Asia (Eurasia)
• Country/State: Türkiye
• City/Town: Istanbul (Arnavutköy district)
• Website: https://www.istairport.com
• Type of Airport: International
• Airport code/s:
o IATA: IST
o ICAO: LTFM
• Terminals:
– One main integrated passenger terminal (with multiple concourses)
• Passenger numbers:
– ~76.0 million passengers (calendar year 2024)
Parking
• Short-term: Multi-storey short-stay parking adjacent to terminal
• Long-term: Large-capacity long-stay car parks with daily caps; advance booking available
• Valet: Official valet parking service available (premium paid service)
Hotel
• On site:
– YOTEL Istanbul Airport (landside and airside hotels within terminal complex)
• Nearby:
– Limited nearby hotels due to airport location; additional options in northern Istanbul
Other facilities
• Restaurants/cafes: Extensive Turkish and international dining across terminal
• Bars: Licensed bars and cafés available airside
• Lounges: Turkish Airlines lounges, Star Alliance partner lounges, independent lounges
• Duty-free shops: Large duty-free retail areas operated by Unifree
• Gift shops/newsagent/chemist: Souvenirs, books, convenience stores and pharmacies
• On-site travel agent: Limited; airline service desks and airport service counters instead
• Help desk/Lost & found: Airport information desks and centralised lost & found service
• Car rental: Major international and Turkish car-rental companies on site
• Taxi/transport to city: Taxis, ride-hailing, buses, and metro (M11 line connecting to city rail network)
• Baby/parent room: Baby care rooms and family facilities throughout terminal
• Business center/free-Wi-Fi/charging: Free Wi-Fi; extensive charging points; business services via lounges
• Gym: Fitness facilities available at on-site YOTEL (airside/landside access)
• Beauty center/hairdresser: Spa, grooming and wellness services in selected areas
• Other facilities: Medical clinics, prayer rooms, quiet areas, art installations
• Biometric check-in: Biometric self-service check-in and boarding increasingly deployed by Turkish Airlines
• Biometric customs: Automated border-control e-gates using biometric passports for eligible travellers
Disabled/accessibility
• Free PRM assistance available; request via airline in advance
• Wheelchair assistance from curbside to gate and arrival halls
• Fully step-free terminal with ramps, elevators and wide circulation areas
• Accessible parking spaces near terminal entrances
• Accessible toilets throughout terminal
• Priority security and passport-control lanes available
• Assistance dogs permitted (subject to national regulations)
• Support for non-visible disabilities via trained staff
• Metro stations and terminal transport systems designed with step-free access
Runways
• Runway 16L/34R
• Runway 16R/34L
• Runway 17L/35R
• Runway 17R/35L
Length/Width
• 16L/34R: ~3,750 m × 60 m
• 16R/34L: ~3,750 m × 60 m
• 17L/35R: ~4,100 m × 60 m
• 17R/35L: ~4,100 m × 60 m
• All runways capable of Code F aircraft operations (A380, B747-8)
Grooving of runways
• Grooved runway surfaces used to improve wet-weather braking performance
• High-capacity drainage systems reduce hydroplaning risk
• Detailed specifications published in the Turkish AIP
ILS/CAT capability
• ILS installed on all runway ends
• CAT II/III capability available on primary runways
• Approved for CAT III low-visibility autoland operations for suitably equipped aircraft and crews
Navigation aids
• Full ILS coverage with PAPI
• VOR/DME navigation aids
• RNAV (GNSS-based) SIDs and STARs
• Advanced surface movement radar and multilateration systems
Low-visibility operations
– Full Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) in place
– Regular CAT II/III operations during fog and low cloud
– Stop bars, SMGCS and strict ATC separation applied
On-time departures (OTP) data
• Airport-specific annual OTP figures not routinely published by the operator
• OTP influenced by:
– Weather (fog, wind)
– Rapid traffic growth and hub-bank operations
– Airspace congestion over Istanbul region
Airfield restrictions
• Slot-coordinated airport with capacity management
• Noise abatement procedures apply
• Preferential runway use based on wind and environmental constraints
• Planned runway and taxiway maintenance managed via NOTAMs
Aircraft maintenance
• Extensive aircraft maintenance capability on site
• Major maintenance base operated by Turkish Technic
• Line and heavy maintenance available for widebody and narrowbody fleets
• Strong integration with Turkish aviation authorities
Eco-efficient operations (e.g., energy use, carbon minimization, waste management, etc.)
• Airport operator targets carbon neutrality for airport operations in line with national climate objectives
• Extensive use of fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air to reduce APU usage
• Terminal-wide LED lighting and smart building management systems
• Waste reduction, recycling and resource-recovery programs across terminal operations
Renewable energy use
• On-site solar photovoltaic installations across airport facilities
• Increasing procurement of renewable electricity
• Energy-efficiency measures remain the primary emissions-reduction strategy
Availability of biofuel alternatives
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supply capability available on an airline-driven basis
• Turkish Airlines actively trials and scales SAF usage from Istanbul
• No airport-mandated SAF blending requirement publicly specified
Conservation of biodiversity [actual programs]
• Environmental impact assessments conducted for airport development on former forestry land
• Habitat management and monitoring programmes implemented as mitigation measures
• Ongoing environmental monitoring in cooperation with national authorities
Sustainable transportation
• Metro (M11) connection reduces reliance on private vehicles
• Extensive bus and coach services
• Electrification of airport-owned vehicle fleets underway
• EV charging infrastructure available in airport car parks
Green building design
• Terminal designed for high passenger efficiency and natural daylight use
• High-performance glazing, insulation and energy-efficient HVAC systems
• Lifecycle efficiency embedded in phased expansion design
• Sustainability criteria integrated into future development stages
