Much has been made of Istanbul’s enormous new airport, an outstanding facility where millions of passengers arrive and depart each year. However, Istanbul International Airport’s location has increased the distance from the facility to the centre of Istanbul, making the city’s second airport even more popular now that it is comparable in distance to IST. Sabiha Gökçen Airport, located in the Asian part of Istanbul, is obviously convenient for locals and visitors heading to this increasingly appealing side of the Bosphorus and is now just as convenient for those heading to Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s historical centre, where the majority of visitors spend their time.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is the central hub for Türkiye’s Pegasus Airlines. This company may be under the radar among travellers and travel agents outside Europe but very much on the radar across the continent. Pegasus operates hundreds of flights connecting European and Asian airports with destinations across Türkiye. The flight between Izmir and Istanbul is one of its shorter ones, covering the 300+ kilometres in just over an hour.
- Pegasus aircraft at Izmir Airport.
- Pegasus jet at gate.
Departure from Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport was easy and efficient. Pegasus helpers on the passenger side of the check-in counter facilitate the departure process by tagging suitcases before travellers move forward to the actual check-in counter a few metres away. The staff there dispatch checked bags and issue boarding passes for those not checked in online.
Being a small airport, arriving hours before the flight departure time is unnecessary, as with larger hub airports. There was doubt that the local recommendation of arriving an hour before the flight would allow sufficient time to get to the gate, so arriving 90 minutes early just meant spending an extra 30 minutes waiting. The locals did know best. Security was fast, and the orderly airport terminal was user-friendly enough to allow relaxation before departure.
On board the 737-800 aircraft was found the standard 3-3 configuration. The row’s middle seat was empty since the flight was not 100% full. Given the short time in the air, service was quick but always friendly when in Türkiye. As on a previous flight from London Stansted nonstop to Izmir, departure was on time, and arrival was ahead of schedule.
- Istanbul, a city rich in architectural marvels.
- Istanbul’s St Stephen Bulgarian Church is made entirely of iron.
In contrast to ADB, Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport is a bustling facility with hundreds of daily arrivals and departures. To remove any stress (especially for international arrivals), ALLWAYS’ meet and greet services make the arrival experience completely relaxed. An ALLWAYS representative meets clients at the jetbridge and escorts them to the baggage carousel to reclaim suitcases with the assistance of a second employee already there waiting. Once bags are delivered, they and the clients are whisked away to the ground transport vehicle.
The transport company Travelium is one of Istanbul’s best options for airport transfers, sightseeing around the city, and even long-distance travel for those who like to see the countryside on their way to Edirne, Bursa, and other locations that make interesting side-trips from Türkiye’s largest city. Reliability and professionalism are paramount in a city such as Istanbul, where traffic can often be chaotic. Travelium drivers and guides excel on both counts, remaining steely in nerves and pleasant in demeanour in the face of whatever road challenges they may face while clients relax in comfort in one of the company’s luxury sedans or perhaps a vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow for an even grander arrival in a very grand city.
Written by Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur