Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen airport (SAW)

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), opened on 8 January 2001 and located on the Asian side of Istanbul, was designed to absorb the region’s growing air traffic demand. It is currently one of the busiest single-terminal airports in the world, operating as a main base for low-cost airlines with flights to Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. It is the main hub for Pegasus Airlines and AJet.

Official Website: sabihagokcen.aero

Telephone (SAWCare): +90 444 3 729

Administration: +90 216 588 80 00

WhatsApp: +90 536 320 95 90

Social Media:

Terminals

The airport features a modern integrated passenger terminal operating 24 hours a day. Although it is a single building, it is functionally divided to manage separate flows:

• Domestic Sector: Intended for flights within Turkey.
• International Sector: Intended for cross-border connections, including passport control and customs areas.

Annual Traffic (2025): 48.4 million passengers.

Information Points

You will find information desks permanently available at the departures level. There are dedicated counters in both the international area and the domestic sector to assist with queries about flights and airport services.

 Location

The airport is located on the Asian side of the city, 12 km (7 miles) north-east of Pendik and 32 km (20 miles) east of central Istanbul.

Parking services at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen airport (SAW)

The airport features a modern and secure parking infrastructure, conveniently located in front of the terminal building to allow immediate access for passengers.

Terminal Parking

This is a four-level complex with a capacity of over 4,700 vehicles, offering both covered and open-air options for short- and long-term stays.

• Security: The facility is monitored by closed-circuit television (CCTV) and security personnel 24 hours a day.
• Accessibility: There are 65 spaces reserved exclusively for passengers with disabilities, located close to access points and lifts.
• Subscriptions: For extended stays, the airport offers multi-day subscription cards that significantly reduce parking costs.

Valet Parking

The Valet Parking service is available 24 hours a day at the departures level. This service allows passengers to hand over their vehicle directly at the terminal entrance to authorised staff, enabling a smoother travel process.

Payment Methods

Parking fees must be paid before collecting the vehicle. To facilitate this, there are payment machines on the departure levels and manual payment points that accept cash and credit/debit cards. Payment can also be made via the airport’s official mobile app.

Price Information: You can check the current hourly and daily rates in the official tariff table.

Facilities for passengers with special needs

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is committed to accessibility and provides infrastructure adapted for passengers with reduced mobility, visual or hearing impairments, and special health conditions.

Assistance Coordination

To ensure an efficient service, it is essential that you contact your airline or travel agency at least 48 hours before your flight departure. This will allow the arrangement of wheelchair assistance and the necessary support from your arrival at the airport to your seat on the aircraft.

• Help points: Assistance columns with intercoms are located at the terminal entrances and in the car park, where you can request immediate help from ground staff.
• Wheelchairs: Available free of charge through the ground handling companies of each airline.

Accessible Facilities

The terminal offers a range of facilities to improve the traveller’s experience:

• Physical accessibility: Ramps, lifts with Braille buttons and voice announcement systems, as well as adapted toilets and public telephones for wheelchair users.
• Signage: Tactile paving (yellow guidance paths) throughout the terminal to assist visually impaired passengers.
• Priority counters: Dedicated check-in and passport control areas clearly signposted to avoid long waiting times.
• Hidden disabilities: The airport participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard scheme. Passengers can request a sunflower lanyard to discreetly indicate that they may need additional support or extra time during airport processes.

Reserved Parking

There are reserved parking spaces close to the terminal entrances. Turkish citizens with a valid disability card may access preferential rates under specific conditions. For international passengers, it is recommended to check at the parking payment desk and present the relevant documentation.