5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“I also enjoy the calmer atmosphere, smoother check-in experience, and practical layout that makes every journey more comfortable and efficient.”
Elanora Breietsch5★ on Google
Airports / Turkey / SAW
Large airport · SAW
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey · 312 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.9/5
Google rating
78,926 ratings
0
Operators based
312
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Pendik, Istanbul, TurkeyELEV 312 FTLarge airportScheduled service
3.9
Google rating
78,926
Google reviews
ratings on Google
312
Field elevation
feet above sea level
7
Nearest alternate
nm to LTBX
Field standing
7 nm
To the nearest alternate
İstanbul Samandıra Army Air Base (LTBX), 5 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (LTFJ / SAW) operates as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 312 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
SAW has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include İstanbul Samandıra Army Air Base (LTBX, 7 nm), İstanbul Atatürk Airport (ISL, 22 nm), and İstanbul Airport (IST, 35 nm). SAW offers 2 runways, the longest 11,614-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of SAW vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from SAW, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at LTFJ? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“The airport is easier to navigate, security lines often move quicker, and reaching the gates takes less time.”
Elanora Breietsch5★ on Google
3/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Here is a concise and helpful review for your Google maps post: Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul.”
carine5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
LTFJ
IATA
SAW
FAA / Local
LTFJ
Elevation
312 ft
Coordinates
40.8986° N · 29.3092° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Turkey fields
state range 11–6,400 ft
At 312 ft, SAW sits lower than 67% of the 64 Turkey fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 11,614 ft
- 06R/24L11,614 ft × 197 ftConcreteUnlit
- 06L/24R9,843 ft × 148 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,614 ft
SAW's 11,614 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 7nmLTBXİstanbul Samandıra Army Air BaseÜmraniye, Istanbul
- 22nmISLİstanbul Atatürk AirportIstanbul(Bakırköy)
- 35nmISTİstanbul AirportIstanbul
- 37nmKCOCengiz Topel AirportKartepe
- 40nmYEIBursa Yenişehir AirportYenişehir
- 65nmTEQTekirdağ Çorlu AirportÇorlu
Location
Open the full mapLTFJ · Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport · Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SAW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 4,212 nm | 10h 12m |
| New York (TEB) | 4,370 nm | 10h 34m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 4,563 nm | 11h 1m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 4,678 nm | 11h 17m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 4,778 nm | 11h 31m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 4,995 nm | 12h 1m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 5,164 nm | 12h 25m |
| Miami (MIA) | 5,209 nm | 12h 31m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SAW?
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport's longest paved runway is 11,614 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SAW?
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 11,614 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SAW?
- The closest alternate is İstanbul Samandıra Army Air Base (LTBX), about 7 nm away, followed by İstanbul Atatürk Airport (ISL) at 22 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SAW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 10h 12m (4,212 nm), New York about 10h 34m (4,370 nm), Washington DC about 11h 1m (4,563 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.