New Istanbul Airport

[Berlin]

And Changi was first built in 4 years.The difference is from the closing of Paya Lebar to Changi was just 12 hours.We had arrived at Paya Labar and 7 days later left from Changi and it was fully functioning.

Well, let’s just see. Something tells me that Changi will remain a success story while this gigantomantic Turkish project has to lots to prove in my eyes.

 

[moa999]

It's already been operating for months with a small number of flights to select destinations.

 

[33kft]

It's already been operating for months with a small number of flights to select destinations.

Yes, but at 2PM on the 6th, Turkish Airlines entirely ceased operations at IST, moved 33 football fields (their unit of measurement, not mine) worth of equipment 32km away to ISL, and resumed operations 6 hours later. It is claimed to be the largest move in the history of global civil aviation. It's kind of noteworthy.

 

[Mattg]

Yes, but at 2PM on the 6th, Turkish Airlines entirely ceased operations at IST, moved 33 football fields (their unit of measurement, not mine) worth of equipment 32km away to ISL, and resumed operations 6 hours later. It is claimed to be the largest move in the history of global civil aviation. It's kind of noteworthy.

I think it (understandably) took a bit more than 6 hours. But yes, quite an achievement.

I wonder how they got all the planes to the new airport. Did they fly from IST to ISL (which I guess is now IST)?

 

[moa999]

Yep.. was a procession of 7 minute flights that were being tracked on airliners.

The 737-8 Max all flew in a few days before

 

[moa999]

New TK lounge review. Looks nice
https://loyaltylobby.com/2019/04/08...nes-lounge-at-istanbul-international-airport/

 

[joesom]

Quick correction. Ankara is Turkey's capital, not Istanbul which was the capital under the Ottoman Empire.

 

[RooFlyer]

Quick correction. Ankara is Turkey's capital, not Istanbul which was the capital under the Ottoman Empire.

Welcome to posting on AFF joesom .

 

[AFF Editor]

Quick correction. Ankara is Turkey's capital, not Istanbul which was the capital under the Ottoman Empire.

Ah, good pickup! I have even been to Ankara so did know this, but must have had a lapse in concentration when writing that Gazette article. I have corrected it.

 

[pagingjoan]

Perhaps there is another thread that has not turned up in my search - but I am surprised there have not been any recent postings here.

In transit, at IST at present. The airport - as expected - is massive, and the walk from arrival gate to transfer point takes an age. Still a heap of construction underway, and the surrounds of the precinct are quite barren. Security, once reached, was a breeze, as the new airport seems to have only a fraction of the standard crowds of the old.

The main entry to the TK Lounge is poorly signed, we found, which may explain why it is an oasis of peace currently, compared with the frenetic activity of the previous Lounge.

As in the previous incarnation, there are numerous cook-to-order food stations, and a small army of floor staff.

The private suites still require an eight hour flight, along with other conditions (including Business Class BP, of course), so generally preclude flights from Europe, alas.

We have yet to see if the boarding procedure here is an improvement on the cattle pen style and shouted orders of the old IST.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The main entry to the TK Lounge is poorly signed, we time ;(found, which may explain why it is an oasis of peace currently, compared with the frenetic activity of the previous Lounge.

I just transited through IST recently as well. Last Thursday at around noon. The Lounge was very full and not an oasis of peace when I was there. The lounge at an excellent variety of food, but as we were not really hungry with two more long flights afterwards we did not partake much.

The airport is huge and not a travellator anywhere and so you just have to walk the full distance yourself. In our case this was diagonally from one set of gates across to the far side, and so I can assure everyone that this is a long, long, long, long walk.

The long walk followed up on the longest taxi ride I can ever recall taking. The flight I thought landed 20 minutes early, but after the all the taxi-ing we were bang on time

The airport overall was spacious, but busy. Boarding was slick enough on our SQ flight in J.

 

[pagingjoan]

I just transited through IST recently as well. Last Thursday at around noon. The Lounge was very full and not an oasis of peace when I was there. The lounge at an excellent variety of food, but as we were not really hungry with two more long flights afterwards we did not partake much.

The airport is huge and not a travellator anywhere and so you just have to walk the full distance yourself. In our case this was diagonally from one set of gates across to the far side, and so I can assure everyone that this is a long, long, long, long walk.

The long walk followed up on the longest taxi ride I can ever recall taking. The flight I thought landed 20 minutes early, but after the all the taxi-ing we were bang on time

The airport overall was spacious, but busy. Boarding was slick enough on our SQ flight in J.

Guess we should agree that the state of the new TK IST Lounge will depend on the day and the time.
More seats occupied here now but it is still quiet and tranquil.

That long, long walk from the arrival gate was punctuated for us by quite a few travellators. It seemed we passed from one end of the terminal to the other but, to my shame, I did not take note of the arrival gate.

I should note that, according to the signage, there are two Lounges but I’ve not yet had the energy to go in search of the second one. When our departure gate posts, I may be stirred into action.

 

[pagingjoan]

Ok.
In the interests of research, I relocated to the second Lounge, closer to the B Gates.
Noticeably more pax but still a good choice of seating - and even relaxation cubicles available.
And a low level of general noise.

I didn’t see a replica of the Istanbul Modern mini-gallery that features in the other lounge but, otherwise, the layout seems similar.
Oh. Another failure. There was a golf practice installation in the first that I didn’t see in the B Gates Lounge.(Of no interest to me, so I may have simply blocked it out.)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

That long, long walk from the arrival gate was punctuated for us by quite a few travellators. It seemed we passed from one end of the terminal to the other but, to my shame, I did not take note of the arrival gate.

Sorry. You are correct. They were on one side and not the other and not through the connecting area that had all the shops and lounges.

And yes I saw the signage for the other lounge, but as we only had about 30 minutes to spend in a lounge we just went to the one that was nearest our departure flight.

 

[jch]

I have a few photos from April when I flew IST-ATH on TK with UA *G, will post tonight.

 

[jch]

Arrival from the freeway



Choosing an entrance



Gloria Jeans available for homesick Aussies



No lines in the business class / *G area compared to the queues snaking around in the economy checkins



Found a comfortable couch with a view over the terminal



Also lots of areas to hide away

 

[jch]

Freshly baked pide doesn't last long!



A number of serving areas



Or DIY



Still on the food...



Good Turkish grub but with pencil sized beers

 

[jch]

Choose your entertainment option:








Before a final Turkish coffee....

 

[pagingjoan]

Yes, jch, that captures a good deal of it.
You have saved me the trouble of trying to load pix, thank you!
To add to my earlier comments, the boarding process for our flight was smooth, fast and totally stress free.
No cattle pens and no shouting.

 

[Mattg]

There's finally a direct metro line to Istanbul Airport open now.

Kağıthane - Istanbul Airport metro line opens

Turkey's president has officially opened a new metro route in Istanbul which is now the fastest such line in the country.

www.railjournal.com