Atatürk Airport Code: ISL, Former IST & Current Travel Info
The current Atatürk Airport IATA code is ISL and its ICAO code is LTBA. Atatürk historically used IST, but that code moved to today’s Istanbul Airport when scheduled passenger operations transferred in April 2019.
What is the code for Atatürk Airport?
The current IATA code for Istanbul Atatürk Airport is ISL. Its four-letter ICAO code is LTBA. These are the identifiers currently published by Türkiye’s State Airports Authority, Devlet Hava Meydanları İşletmesi (DHMİ).
The confusion comes from history. For decades, Atatürk Airport used the better-known IST code while it served as Istanbul’s principal commercial passenger airport. That changed during the move to Istanbul Airport in April 2019.
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Atatürk Airport facts at a glance
DHMİ continues to list Istanbul Atatürk Airport as a civil airport in Istanbul. The authority’s current general-information page gives the airport’s opening year as 1953 and identifies its present traffic type as cargo / general aviation (private).
| Airport detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Official name | İstanbul Atatürk Havalimanı / Istanbul Atatürk Airport |
| IATA code | ISL |
| ICAO code | LTBA |
| City | Istanbul, Türkiye |
| District / area | Yeşilköy, European side of Istanbul |
| Year entered service | 1953 |
| Airport status | Civil |
| Current traffic type | Cargo / General Aviation (Private) |
| Official address | 34149 Yeşilköy / İstanbul, Türkiye |
| Official airport phone | +90 212 463 77 77 |
| Airport operating availability | DHMİ states the airport is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round |
| Coordinates | 40°58′34″N, 28°48′50″E |
| Terminal building area listed by DHMİ | 345,270 m² |
Why Atatürk Airport changed from IST to ISL
Atatürk Airport was Istanbul’s main international passenger gateway for many years, so IST became strongly associated with the Atatürk name. That historical association still appears in old tickets, baggage labels, archived travel websites, airport databases and older travel discussions.
Istanbul Airport opened in October 2018, followed by the large-scale transfer of commercial passenger operations in April 2019. Turkish Airlines records the key code change at 02:59 on 6 April 2019: Atatürk changed from IST to ISL, while Istanbul Airport changed from ISL to IST.
Atatürk Airport was Istanbul’s principal scheduled passenger airport and used IATA code IST.
Istanbul Airport opened, initially beginning operations before the full airline transfer.
Turkish Airlines and other aviation operations carried out the large relocation from Atatürk to Istanbul Airport.
The code switch took place: Atatürk became ISL and Istanbul Airport became IST.
IST means Istanbul Airport. Atatürk Airport retains ISL and ICAO code LTBA.
Is Atatürk Airport still open?
Yes. Saying that Atatürk Airport is simply “closed” is incomplete. The airport remains operational, and DHMİ states that it is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year.
What changed is the type of traffic handled. DHMİ’s airport information identifies the traffic type as cargo / general aviation (private). Its 4 March 2026 local guideline gives a more detailed operational distinction.
Commercial passenger flights
The current DHMİ local guideline states that the airport is closed to scheduled and unscheduled domestic and international commercial passenger flights.
General aviation
General aviation, business flights, air taxi operations and qualifying private aviation activity can use the airport subject to applicable coordination and permission.
Other permitted operations
DHMİ also lists cargo, maintenance or technical operations, state aircraft and other flights specifically permitted by the authority.
What flights can use Atatürk Airport now?
DHMİ’s current local guideline distinguishes permitted aviation activity from commercial passenger service. This matters because the airport is active even though ordinary scheduled passenger airline traffic has moved elsewhere.
| Operation type | Current status in DHMİ local guideline | Traveler relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled commercial passenger flights | Closed | Normal airline passengers should use the airport named on their active reservation, usually IST or SAW for Istanbul. |
| Unscheduled commercial passenger flights | Closed | Do not assume a charter-style passenger operation can routinely use Atatürk. |
| Cargo | Permitted category | Cargo activity remains among the categories listed by DHMİ. |
| General aviation | Permitted category | Use is subject to aviation coordination, slots or permissions as applicable. |
| Air taxi | Permitted category | This is not equivalent to normal scheduled airline passenger service. |
| Business aviation | Permitted category | Business flights are among the activities listed as available. |
| Maintenance / technical flights | Permitted category | Technical aviation activity can operate subject to airport rules. |
| State aircraft | Permitted category | State operations are specifically included in DHMİ’s current permitted-use description. |
| Other flights | Authority permission required | The responsible aviation authority may permit additional operations. |
The same guideline also says that training operations involving traffic patterns or instrument-landing practice are not permitted and identifies restrictions affecting certain very large aircraft types, with limited exceptions for specially permitted operations.
IST vs ISL vs SAW: which code should you use?
Istanbul has multiple airport identifiers that can look confusing when old Atatürk references appear alongside current flight information. For normal passenger travel, the code printed on the airline’s current reservation should control your planning.
| Airport | IATA | ICAO | Current traveler meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul Atatürk Airport | ISL | LTBA |
Active aviation airport but not Istanbul’s regular commercial passenger hub
Do not use for ordinary passenger booking |
| Istanbul Airport | IST | LTFM |
Major domestic and international commercial passenger airport
Current passenger airport |
| Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport | SAW | LTFJ |
Separate scheduled passenger airport on the Asian side
Current passenger airport |
Which Istanbul airport are you actually looking for?
Your ticket says IST
Go by the current airport name Istanbul Airport. Do not use old maps or travel articles that label IST as Atatürk.
- Current IATA: IST
- ICAO: LTFM
- Scheduled passenger airport
Your ticket says SAW
Your airport is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, a completely separate passenger airport.
- Current IATA: SAW
- ICAO: LTFJ
- Asian side of Istanbul
You specifically need Atatürk
ISL is the current code for Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Verify the purpose of your trip before traveling there.
- Current IATA: ISL
- ICAO: LTBA
- No normal commercial passenger service
How to verify the correct airport on your ticket
The airport code is usually more reliable than an outdated airport-name label. If an older booking site, transfer company or saved travel document uses “Atatürk” and “IST” together, confirm the current airport before paying for transport or heading across Istanbul.
Open the operating airline’s current reservation
Use the airline website or app rather than relying only on an old screenshot, forwarded itinerary or third-party booking summary.
Find the three-letter airport code
Look for IST, SAW or another code beside the flight’s departure and arrival information.
Match the code with the current airport
IST means Istanbul Airport today. SAW means Sabiha Gökçen. ISL means Atatürk Airport.
Check the operating airline, not only the seller
If a third-party site still displays “Atatürk Airport (IST),” compare it with the operating airline’s live reservation before making travel arrangements.
Verify again before departure
Use the airline and official passenger airport website for current terminal, check-in, schedule and disruption information.
Why old documents may show IST for Atatürk Airport
An old ticket or baggage tag showing IST does not prove that IST still belongs to Atatürk Airport. Airport codes can be reassigned when airport systems change, and Istanbul’s 2019 transition is a major example.
Historical ticket
A pre-April 2019 itinerary showing IST may correctly refer to Atatürk Airport because IST was its code at that time.
Current ticket
A modern itinerary showing IST refers to Istanbul Airport, not the former Atatürk passenger terminal.
Archived flight database
Historical datasets may preserve the code in the context that applied on the original flight date. Always check the date before comparing airport records.
Outdated travel page
A page that currently says “Atatürk Airport (IST)” without explaining the 2019 change should not be used for present-day travel planning.
What happened to the old Atatürk passenger terminal?
DHMİ’s current terminal information states that the former domestic terminal was closed when Istanbul Airport entered service and was transferred back to DHMİ. This supports the important distinction between the airport continuing to exist operationally and its former scheduled passenger-terminal function ending.
For travelers, that means old terminal maps, airline check-in counters, passenger lounges, transfer instructions and public-transport guidance for Atatürk should be treated as historical unless an official current source specifically says otherwise.
IATA code ISL vs ICAO code LTBA
ISL
IATA codes are three-letter identifiers commonly encountered in airline reservations, airport searches, baggage systems and travel databases.
LTBA
ICAO airport identifiers are four letters and are mainly used in professional aviation, flight planning and aeronautical information.
Atatürk’s ICAO code LTBA remained useful for aviation identification even while the passenger-facing IATA code changed. That is why professional aviation records may be easier to distinguish from old passenger material.
Atatürk Airport is currently a Level 2 airport
DHMİ’s Slot Coordination Center currently lists Istanbul Atatürk Airport as an IATA Level 2 airport. This is an operational planning classification and should not be confused with passenger-terminal status.
The authority publishes separate contacts for current-season and future-season coordination, along with a slot-request email. These details are aimed at aviation operators rather than ordinary airline passengers.
Atatürk Airport phone, address and operating information
Airport phone
+90 212 463 77 77
Published by DHMİ for Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
Official address
34149 Yeşilköy / İstanbul
Use the current airport identity before traveling to the site.
Airport operation
24 hours / 7 days
This refers to airport operating availability, not scheduled passenger service.
Where is Istanbul Atatürk Airport?
Istanbul Atatürk Airport is in Yeşilköy on the European side of Istanbul, close to the Sea of Marmara. DHMİ publishes the airport coordinates as approximately 40°58′34″N, 28°48′50″E.
Its location is very different from today’s Istanbul Airport, which is much farther north of central Istanbul. This geographic difference is another reason a wrong airport-code assumption can cause a serious ground-transport mistake.
Atatürk Airport code mistakes and how to fix them
A website says “Atatürk Airport (IST)”
Check the publication date. That pairing was historically correct but is outdated for current passenger travel. IST now identifies Istanbul Airport.
Your transfer driver asks “old airport or new airport?”
Give the driver the current airport name and three-letter code from your airline reservation rather than saying only “Istanbul airport.”
You found ISL in an aviation database
That can be correct. ISL is the current Atatürk IATA code even though the airport does not handle normal scheduled commercial passenger services.
Your passenger itinerary appears to say ISL
Confirm directly with the operating airline before traveling. Atatürk’s current role makes a normal scheduled passenger itinerary to ISL unusual.
An old baggage tag says IST
Consider the travel date. A historic IST baggage tag may genuinely refer to Atatürk if it predates the April 2019 code transfer.
You are collecting historical flight data
Do not automatically normalize every historic IST record to present-day Istanbul Airport. Airport identity should be interpreted using the flight date and source context.
Traveler checklist for Istanbul airport-code confusion
- Open the latest reservation from the operating airline.
- Confirm whether the airport code is IST, SAW or another code.
- Do not assume IST means Atatürk because of an older trip.
- Check the current airport name beside the three-letter code.
- Confirm the airport before booking a taxi, hotel transfer or pickup.
- Use the passenger airport’s official website for current terminal and access information.
- Verify same-day flight details with the airline before departure.
Atatürk Airport code FAQs
What is the current Atatürk Airport code?
Istanbul Atatürk Airport currently uses IATA code ISL and ICAO code LTBA.
Was Atatürk Airport code IST?
Yes. Atatürk Airport used IST when it was Istanbul’s main commercial passenger airport. The code moved to the present Istanbul Airport in April 2019.
Exactly when did Atatürk change from IST to ISL?
Turkish Airlines records the airport-code change at 02:59 on 6 April 2019. Atatürk changed to ISL and Istanbul Airport took over IST.
What airport does IST mean now?
IST now means Istanbul Airport. Its ICAO code is LTFM.
Is ISL the same airport as IST?
No. ISL identifies Istanbul Atatürk Airport, while IST identifies the current Istanbul Airport. They are separate physical airports in different parts of Istanbul.
Is Atatürk Airport completely closed?
No. The airport remains operational. DHMİ lists its current traffic type as cargo and private/general aviation, and current local guidelines permit several non-passenger aviation categories.
Does Atatürk Airport still have commercial passenger flights?
DHMİ’s current 2026 local guideline states that the airport is closed to scheduled and unscheduled domestic and international commercial passenger flights.
What flights can operate at Atatürk now?
DHMİ currently lists cargo, maintenance or technical operations, general aviation, air taxi, business flights, state aircraft and other authority-permitted flights among the categories that may use the airport.
Is Atatürk Airport open 24 hours?
DHMİ states that Istanbul Atatürk Airport is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. This does not mean it operates scheduled passenger flights.
What is Atatürk Airport’s phone number?
DHMİ publishes the airport contact number as +90 212 463 77 77.
Where is Atatürk Airport located?
The airport is in Yeşilköy on Istanbul’s European side. DHMİ lists the official address as 34149 Yeşilköy / İstanbul.
What is Atatürk Airport’s ICAO code?
The ICAO code is LTBA. This four-letter identifier is commonly used in professional aviation and aeronautical publications.
What does SAW mean in Istanbul?
SAW is the IATA code for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, a separate scheduled passenger airport on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Why do old websites still show IST for Atatürk?
Because IST genuinely belonged to Atatürk before the April 2019 airport transfer. Older webpages and databases may not have been updated after the code reassignment.
Which Istanbul airport should I go to for my flight?
Use the airport code and airport name on the operating airline’s current reservation. If the information conflicts with a third-party booking site, verify directly with the airline before traveling.
Sources used to verify Atatürk Airport information
The code transition creates enough confusion that current airport details should be checked against primary sources rather than copied from old airport directories.
Verifies ISL, LTBA, Istanbul location, 1953 service year, civil status, cargo/general-aviation traffic type, terminal area and coordinates.
Verifies LTBA, Level 2 status, 24/7 airport operation and current airport coordination information.
Verifies ISL/LTBA and current restrictions on commercial passenger flights plus permitted categories such as cargo, general aviation, air taxi and business flights.
Verifies the Yeşilköy address, airport phone and published operational/administrative hours.
Verifies that the present Istanbul Airport uses IATA code IST and ICAO code LTFM.
Provides the April 2019 relocation timeline and records the IST/ISL code switch during the move from Atatürk to Istanbul Airport.
Official source for SAW airport information when comparing Istanbul’s passenger airports.
Bottom line for travelers
The current code for Atatürk Airport is ISL, not IST. Atatürk’s ICAO code is LTBA. IST was Atatürk’s historic passenger code, but since the April 2019 airport transition, IST has identified today’s Istanbul Airport.
Atatürk Airport remains an active aviation facility in Yeşilköy, but current DHMİ rules close it to scheduled and unscheduled domestic and international commercial passenger flights. Normal passenger travelers should follow the airport name and code shown on their live airline reservation.
Airport-Guides.org is an independent informational website and is not DHMİ, Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen Airport or an airline. For operational, booking, terminal or same-day flight decisions, use the responsible official airport or operating airline.