Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

Opened in 2001, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on Istanbul’s Asian side operates from one main passenger terminal with multiple concourses and has grown into a busy secondary gateway handling tens of millions of travelers annually. Located roughly 35 km southeast of the historic center, it’s well connected by highway shuttle buses, coach services and a metro/rail link offering straightforward transfers to the Marmaray and the European side. Popular with budget-conscious flyers, SAW is generally more affordable than Istanbul’s larger airport thanks to a strong low-cost carrier presence; it serves as the primary base for Pegasus Airlines and a major operating base for AnadoluJet and other carriers.