Hire a private jet to or from Istanbul
About 70% of Istanbul's private jet flights use Atatürk, an airport with no scheduled airline flights since April 2019. The airlines moved to Istanbul Airport, and Atatürk now serves private, business and government flights. Operator guides say arrivals, departures and taxiing are significantly faster there as a result. They also point to its closeness to the centre as a reason to prefer it.
About a third of Istanbul's flights stay inside Turkey. Ankara, the capital, is the busiest link with 2,893 flights in 2025. The next busiest Turkish links are Bodrum and Dalaman, both coastal resort airports. Abroad, the biggest markets are Russia, Greece, France and Italy.
Based on 2,300+ reviews
Which airport is best for private jets?
Istanbul has three airports for private jets, and the Bosphorus shapes the choice between them. Atatürk (ISL, LTBA) and Istanbul Airport (IST, LTFM) are on the European side. Atatürk is 16 km from the centre, while Istanbul Airport lies 52 km away to the north-west. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW, LTFJ) is on the Asian side, 39 km from the centre.
Preferred for business aviation
Istanbul Atatürk Airport
IATA:ISL
ICAO:LTBA
Central Istanbul: 20-25 min by car (16 km)
Istanbul Airport
IATA:IST
ICAO:LTFM
Central Istanbul: 45-55 min by car (52 km)
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
IATA:SAW
ICAO:LTFJ
Central Istanbul: 55-65 min by car (39 km)
Want to know more about airport facilities, slot constraints and more
Private aviation facilities
At Atatürk, the General Aviation Terminal is run by ExecuJet with Bilen Air Services and operates around the clock. Istanbul Airport has the Jetex iGA Terminal, which opened in May 2026. It covers 5,000 square metres, Jetex calls it its largest terminal worldwide, and it serves private jet and commercial VIP passengers. Sabiha Gökçen has an ExecuJet FBO next to Terminal 1.
Slot constraints & peak demand
Turkey's state airports authority, DHMI, lists Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen as IATA Level 3 airports, which means their slots are fully coordinated. Operator guides say private flights at Sabiha Gökçen need the slot requested at least 48 hours ahead. They are less clear for Atatürk, so the requirement there is confirmed for each flight. July is the busiest month, with 3,239 movements against 1,706 in February. Short-notice requests can work in summer but are not guaranteed. Istanbul Airport opened a sixth runway in September 2026, intended to add flexibility.
Transfers & airport choice
Atatürk is the shortest transfer to central Istanbul: 16 km, or 20 to 25 minutes by car. Istanbul Airport is 52 km away and takes 45 to 55 minutes. The drive from Sabiha Gökçen crosses the Bosphorus and takes 55 to 65 minutes, the longest of the three even though it covers only 39 km. For a hotel on the Asian side, the drive from Sabiha Gökçen avoids the crossing.
For central Istanbul, Atatürk saves 20 to 35 minutes on the road compared with Istanbul Airport, and it is the airport most private flights use. Istanbul Airport offers the new Jetex terminal and a sixth runway in exchange for the longer drive. Sabiha Gökçen makes sense when the stay is on the Asian side.
Talk to your Dubai-based aviation advisor, 24/7
Our team of Private Aviation Advisors based in Dubai (DIFC) speaks Arabic, English, French, Turkish and Dutch, and is available 24/7 to arrange private jet charters across the Middle East and beyond. In addition to the flight itself, the team can coordinate concierge and chauffeur services for each journey.
- Middle East's Leading Private Jet Travel Experience 2026 (World Travel Awards 2026)
- Best Full-Service Air Charter Company (Aviation Achievement Awards 2026)
Private aviation activity (2025)
Istanbul is the busiest city in Turkey for private aviation, with 28,310 movements in 2025. Almost all of them are jets: turboprops flew only 0.9%. Large and long-range jets flew 62.7%. The median flight covered 1,052 km. Those flights connected Istanbul with 798 airports in 141 countries. From January to August 2026, movements were 2.2% higher than in the same months of 2025. Flights at Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen rose by 7% and 8%, and Atatürk's stayed level.
01 Flight movements
28,310
- 1st busiest private aviation city in Turkey
- 2nd in Southern Europe
02 Busiest route
Ankara
- 2,893 flights in both directions
- 10.2% of the city's private jet movements
03 Most seasonal route
Cagliari
- 91% of its flights from June to August
- 43 flights in 2025
04 Peak season
June to August
- 32.5% of annual activity
- 66% busier than January to March
12-month overview
- 2,000Jan
- 1,706Feb
- 1,828Mar
- 2,010Apr
- 2,577May
- 2,859Jun
- 3,239Jul
- 3,096Aug
- 2,561Sep
- 2,346Oct
- 2,034Nov
- 2,054Dec
2025 ranking
Busiest private jet routes
Based on private jet flights in both directions (2025)
| Flights | Most popular period | Share (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2893 | Year-round | ||
| 1914 | Jul & Aug | ||
| 1264 | Year-round | ||
| 892 | Jun to Aug | ||
| 822 | Year-round | ||
| 697 | Year-round | ||
| 677 | Year-round | ||
| 676 | May to Sep | ||
| 670 | Jun to Sep |
Top private jets
Which aircraft are most commonly flown to and from Istanbul?
The three aircraft types flown most often to and from Istanbul in 2025 were the Bombardier Challenger 600/601/604/605/650 (CL60) with 10.9% of flights, the Hawker 700/750/800/850/900 (H25B) with 8.9%, and the Gulfstream G300/350/400/450 (GLF4) with 8.8%.
- Bombardier Challenger 600/601/604/605/650
CL60Large jet 10.9% - Hawker 700/750/800/850/900
H25BMidsize jet 8.9% - Gulfstream G300/350/400/450
GLF4Super large jet 8.8%
Share of 28,310 private jet flights to and from Istanbul in 2025.
What the data shows
Three Airports, Three Jobs
62.0%
Istanbul Airport flights covering 1,000 km or more
42.8%
Sabiha Gökçen flights that stay inside Turkey
56%
Sabiha Gökçen flights flown by owners or companies
Istanbul's three airports are used for different kinds of flight. Istanbul Airport takes the longer trips. In 2025, 62.0% of its flights covered 1,000 km or more, against 49.1% at each of the other two. It is also the most charter-oriented, with 78% of its flights operated as charter. Sabiha Gökçen is the most domestic, with 42.8% of its flights staying inside Turkey, and 56% of its flights are flown by owners or companies rather than for charter. Atatürk carries most of the traffic and looks much like Istanbul as a whole.
Source: LunaJets analysis of ADS-B flight tracking data. Contains information from adsb.lol, made available under the Open Database License (ODbL).
Methodology: LunaJets filters and enriches the raw data: each flight is matched to its airports, city and aircraft category, then aggregated. Figures cover 1 January to 31 December 2025 and include private and business jets, VIP aircraft and turboprops. Helicopters and scheduled airline flights are not counted. Each departure or arrival at the city's airports counts as one movement.
Data last update: 2026-09-29
For private jet travellers
Things to do
Topkapı Palace was the sultans' main residence from the 1460s until Dolmabahçe Palace, on the Bosphorus shore, was completed in 1853. The Basilica Cistern, a 6th-century Byzantine reservoir 150 metres from Hagia Sophia, reopened in 2022 after restoration. Zeyrek Çinili Hamam, a 16th-century bathhouse designed by the architect Sinan, reopened in 2023 after 13 years of restoration and is a working hamam again, with a museum.
Where to stay
Çırağan Palace Kempinski occupies an Ottoman imperial palace built in the 1870s on the Bosphorus, and guests can arrive by boat, helicopter or car. The Peninsula Istanbul opened in 2023 on the Karaköy waterfront at Galataport, in restored historic customs buildings. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet fills the former Sultanahmet Prison, built in 1918, near Hagia Sophia.
Where to dine
TURK Fatih Tutak, in Bomonti, was the first restaurant in Turkey to win two Michelin stars, and its chef Fatih Tutak is also the owner. Arkestra, in a converted 1960s villa in Etiler, holds one star. Neolokal has one star and a terrace over the Golden Horn, in the former Ottoman Bank building at SALT Galata. Mikla, on the 18th floor of The Marmara Pera, also holds one star and has a 360-degree view over Istanbul.
Istanbul: charter experiences in our clients' words
LunaJets is a private jet charter broker: we do not own or operate aircraft.
Each flight in these testimonials was arranged by us, but performed by a licensed air operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can affect your private jet charter quote to Istanbul?
The final quote depends on the route, aircraft category, aircraft positioning and agreed services. In Istanbul, airport choice can also affect pricing, as Atatürk, Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen involve different handling, parking and ground-transfer conditions.
Crew waiting or overnight stays, catering and other itinerary-specific services may also affect the price.
Which FBO or private terminal will be used in Istanbul?
The private terminal or handling setup depends on the airport confirmed for your flight. Atatürk has dedicated general aviation facilities for business aviation passengers, with FBO and handler support available from providers such as ExecuJet / Bilen Air Services. Istanbul Airport also supports private aviation through GA and VIP facilities, while Sabiha Gökçen has a separate General Aviation Terminal for business jets and air taxis.
Your advisor will confirm the final terminal, FBO or handling arrangement according to the airport, aircraft, schedule, passenger requirements and local availability.
Further reading:
Can LunaJets arrange VIP handling and ground transfers in Istanbul?
Yes. LunaJets can help coordinate VIP handling and ground transfers from your arrival airport to your hotel, residence, meeting venue or onward destination in Istanbul.
Transfer planning is especially important in Istanbul because the best airport can depend on whether you are travelling to the European side, the Asian side, the Bosphorus, the historic centre, or business districts such as Levent, Maslak or Ataşehir. Atatürk is often convenient for central and European-side itineraries, while Sabiha Gökçen may be more practical for Asian-side destinations.
Can I fly nonstop to Istanbul by private jet?
Many European, regional and Middle Eastern routes to Istanbul can be flown nonstop by private jet, depending on aircraft category, passenger load, luggage, weather and routing. Routes such as London-Istanbul, Geneva-Istanbul or Dubai-Istanbul may be suitable for larger aircraft, while shorter routes such as Istanbul-Bodrum or Istanbul-Athens may allow more flexibility in aircraft category.
Longer intercontinental flights should be reviewed case by case, as a fuel stop may be required depending on the aircraft, payload and operating conditions.
Further reading:
What happens if airport slots or parking are limited in Istanbul?
If slots, parking or preferred handling options are limited, your LunaJets advisor can review another departure time or airport, depending on the aircraft, schedule and whether your itinerary is focused on the European or Asian side.
Who operates my private jet flight to Istanbul?
LunaJets is a private jet charter broker, not the aircraft operator. Your flight to or from Istanbul is operated by a certified commercial operator selected according to your itinerary, aircraft requirements, availability and service expectations.
Before departure, LunaJets shares the operating carrier’s details with you, and the aircraft registration can be provided once confirmed by the operator.
Can I request specific catering for my private jet charter?
Yes. Dietary requirements, preferred dishes and drinks can be requested in advance. LunaJets can coordinate the request, subject to local availability, the notice provided and the aircraft's storage, preparation and serving facilities.
Further reading: Private jet catering