New High-Speed Metro Line Connects Istanbul to Busiest Airport in Europe
On Sunday, January 22th, 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated a new high-speed metro line connecting Istanbul to the city's airport, which is set to become Europe's busiest in 2022. The 34-kilometer line, which can carry 800,000 passengers per day, runs from the Kağıthane neighborhood through Eyüpsultan and Arnavutköy districts to the airport. The line marks the first railway connection with Turkey's largest airport, and promises to add to the already dense transportation network in Istanbul and boost passenger and cargo mobility.
Istanbul Airport, officially declared open in late October 2018 and fully operational in April 2019, is currently the busiest airport in Europe with an average of 1,156 daily flights last year. The new metro line will make it possible for passengers to reach the airport from Kağıthane in just 24 minutes, greatly improving the airport's accessibility for both domestic and international travelers.
The President highlighted that the new metro line was integrated with a metro line in Mahmutbey and will be connected to the Zincirlikuyu Metrobus stop in a few months. He also noted that the signaling system of the metro was produced by leading Turkish defense company Aselsan in cooperation with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK).
The President emphasized that the new metro line is just one of several transportation projects currently underway in Istanbul. Work is also ongoing on the Bakırköy-Bağcılar, Başakşehir-Kayaşehir, Kazlıçeşme-Sirkeci and Altunizade-Bosna Boulevard lines, which will increase Istanbul's rail system to over 380 kilometers once completed.
In addition to improving the metro system in Istanbul, the government is also looking to connect a high-speed train line between Istanbul and Ankara to the two airports in the metropolis. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu previously announced that the project to link the railway line to Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Anatolian side and Istanbul Airport on the European side of the city is nearing the tender stage. The Ankara-Istanbul high-speed train line will leave the Gebze district of northwestern Kocaeli province, cross the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and stop at Sabiha Gökçen Airport before reaching Istanbul Airport. These projects will greatly improve accessibility to Istanbul Airport and increase connectivity between the city and the rest of the country.
How Many Minutes to Get to Istanbul Airport from Which Station
On Sunday, January 22, 2023, the Kagithane-Istanbul Airport metro line officially opened. This new line is expected to greatly improve transportation to Istanbul Airport. Yesterday, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu disclosed the fare for the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport metro and the distance between the two points, which many citizens have been curious about. The specific details of the fare and the stops along the route, as well as the duration of the journey from Kağıthane to Istanbul Airport, are provided below.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu revealed information about the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport metro line during a live broadcast. He shared many positive updates and answered various questions about the fare, travel time, and stops of the Kagithane-Istanbul Airport metro line. Here are the details of the new metro line that people are curious about.
Istanbul Airport Metro Line Route:
Minister Karaismailoğlu stated that the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport metro line currently begins at the Kağıthane station, and will be extended to Gayrettepe by next June. He also mentioned that once it reaches Gayrettepe, it will connect with the Taksim-Hacıosman metro and the metrobus from Zincirlikuyu. Additionally, it will also connect with the Kağıthane station of the Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey line.
Istanbul Airport Metro Price:
The fare for the Istanbul Airport Metro will be equivalent to that of the metrobus. The cost for short distances will be 9.90 TL, while the fare to the airport will be 12TL. The fare will be based on the length of the journey. Students will be eligible to receive a 50% discount on the fare.
Will Credit Card Be Accepted
Payment options include Istanbulkart, Türkiyekart, and credit cards. The turnstiles have been designed to accommodate these methods of payment.
Duration Between Kağithane And Istanbul Airport
Turkey's fastest metro will reach a speed of 120 km/h, making it one of the fastest in the world. Most city metros have a maximum speed of 80 km/h, but this one can travel at up to 120 km/h, with an average speed of 90 km/h. The journey from Kağıthane to Istanbul Airport can be completed in 48 minutes and from Taksim in 76 minutes.
How Long Does it Take to Travel from Which Station to Istanbul Airport in Minutes?
With the determination of the metro stops for the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport route, the travel time from each stop is now known.
- It takes 24 minutes to travel from Göktürk to Istanbul Airport.
- 42 minutes to travel from Kağıthane,
- 66 minutes from Zincirlikuyu,
- 70 minutes from 4. Levent,
- 82 minutes from Taksim,
- And 90 minutes from Esenler to Istanbul Airport.