Top Airlinеs that Opеrate at Sabiha Gokcеn: Sеrvicеs, Routеs and Passеngеr Expеriеncеs
Sabiha Gokcen Airport has experienced tremendous growth since opening in 2001, now serving millions of passengers annually. Sabiha Gokcen mainly serves budget travelers. It offers easy connections within Turkey and to nearby international places. Pegasus Airlines is the main carrier. Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways also provide flights in this low-cost market, along with many others.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport offers travelers a quick and efficient experience without the size of large airports. In this post, we will explore the airlines that operate at Sabiha Gokcen. We will also discuss the flight experiences and facilities available at SAW. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect when flying through SAW.
Airlines that Operate at Sabiha Gokcen Airport
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport accommodates both local and global flights, offering various options to meet diverse travel needs. While it is not as large as Istanbul Airport, SAW is recognized for its efficiency and convenient access, catering to millions of travelers annually and focusing on affordable travel alternatives and regional connections.
Primary Airlines at Sabiha Gocken Airport (SAW)
Pegasus Airlines
Pеgasus Airlinеs is one of Turkеy's largеst low cost airlinеs sеrving Sabiha Gokcеn as its flagship carriеr. Pеgasus providеs domеstic and intеrnational flights across an еxtеnsivе routе nеtwork. It sеrvеs major Turkish cities like Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya as well as international locations throughout Europe and the Middle East and North Africa.
Pegasus Airlines is known for its low fares and simple service. It caters to both vacationers and business travelers on shorter routes. Due to their lower cost structure, passengers typically must pay additional costs such as baggage handling charges, seat selection fees, or meals, which is common among budget carriers.
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Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines' primary hub is Istanbul Airport. However, select flights also depart from Sabiha Gokcen. Passengers can experience its premium service, with complimentary meals, in-flight entertainment options, and larger cabin sizes than low-cost airlines.
Turkish Airlines flights from Sabiha Gokcen Airport mainly offer domestic connections and short international routes. This smaller SAW airport is a good choice for passengers who want high-quality service in a quieter setting.
Other Airlines at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)
- Airarabia
- Ajet
- Azal
- British Airways
- Buta Airways
- Emirates
- Fly Arystan
- Fly Baghdad
- Flydubai
- Flynas
- Flyiraqi Airways
- Jazeera Airways
- Kuwait Airways
- Nileair
- Flypgs
- Pobeda Aero
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Salam Air
- Turkish Airlines
Flight Reviews at Sabiha Gokcen Airport SAW
At Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), passengers experience various services depending on which airline they select for their flight. Below are reviews of some of the main carriers operating out of SAW; each provides details regarding both positive and negative aspects of flying with them based on real passenger experiences.
Pegasus Airlines
As Sabiha Gokcen's largest carrier, Pegasus Airlines draws mixed reactions due to its cost-cutting model. Many passengers appreciate its competitively-priced services for short domestic flights or regional international routes.
Skytrax and TripAdvisor reviews often praise Pegasus flights' ease of booking and frequent service, particularly among budget travelers. Pegasus domestic routes' punctuality has often been noted among reviewers.
Customer experiences and feedback
Customers have pointed to the relatively new fleet and clean cabin as key aspects that contribute to an enjoyable flying experience.
Pegasus Airlines' overall review is a 4/10 rating from 437 reviews with 2 Star Airline rating on Skytrax. One of the ratings states:
"Nice leather seat"
Barry Whitford (United Kingdom) 13th November 2015
I flew Pegasus Airlines scheduled service from Athens to Istanbul. Nice leather seat which reclined and had seat pocket and magazine holder. Legroom same as many airlines. If you fly charter the configuration may give you less space.
Some negative reviews are that passengers often express frustration over additional fees related to checked baggage, seat selection and meals on longer flights; unfortunately not having these amenities included can become quite irritating.
Reviews also mention tight legroom on longer flights, making long journeys especially uncomfortable for taller passengers. Furthermore, customer service issues during delays or cancellations sometimes come up, with passengers feeling that communication between their airlines could improve further.
One of the ratings states:
"I won't recommend"
T Barsou (United Arab Emirates) 27th June 2024
✅ Trip Verified | They delay and cancel flights without giving you any compensation even after showing proof with the EU Law that you are eligible. I missed my second flight because of them and no compensation was given. I had to take another expensive ticket on the spot. They barely can speak English and are also very rude. I won't recommend it to anyone.
Turkish Airlines
Turkey Airport serves as the primary hub for Turkish Airlines, though Sabiha Gokcen Station also offers some limited flights. Well known for its full-service approach and consistently positive customer reviews, Turkish Airlines tends to receive higher marks among reviewers.
Turkish Airlines has earned rave reviews for the value it adds compared to low-cost airlines through complimentary services that include meals, entertainment, and baggage allowance.
Turkish Airlines is known for providing comfortable seats, attentive service, and overall high-quality flying experiences even on shorter routes. Many passengers find flights departing SAW more relaxing due to the airport's smaller size and simple navigation system.
Customer experiences and feedback
Turkish Airlines' overall review is a 4/10 rating from 2655 reviews with 4 Star Airline rating on Skytrax. Some of the ratings states:
"Keeping the 777 with 9 abreast seating"
Michele Caforio (Italy) 2nd October 2024
✅ Trip Verified | Turkish Airlines is one of the few airlines keeping the 777 with 9 abreast seating (like it was originally designed). In a long range flight, the difference is important. A few centimeters more width add comfort and allow better sleep. Apart from that, the crew was nice, and the food was between normal and good.
"everything was ok"
Elena Iuliana Achim (Romania) 12th September 2024
✅ Trip Verified | The children were satisfied with the flight with Turkish Airlines, the food was very good and delicious, inflight entertainment was good, and everything was ok.
Some passengers flying out of Sabiha Gokcen with Turkish Airlines have experienced delays and inconsistent service when compared with its operations at Istanbul Airport. Turkish Airlines' pricing can sometimes cause complaints among its passengers; some believe the airline to be more costly than low-cost airlines while offering significantly better services on short-haul flights.
"Major flight delay"S Kassali (Greece) 13th September 2024
✅ Trip Verified | Never again with Turkish Airlines. Major flight delay for a business trip to Korea. I am talking 4 hours plus, this destroyed my trip, had me exhausted and I won't be able to perform my work properly. All they offer is a cheap fast food meal and NOTHING ELSE.
Low-Cost Airlines Reviews at Sabiha Gokcen Airport
FlyDubai
Flydubai Airlines' overall review is a 3/10 rating from 444 reviews with on Skytrax. Some of the reviews states:
“Happy with the services received”Rajdeep Singh (United Arab Emirates) 7th October 2024 Not Verified | Happy with the services received. The food was ok. Vegetarian was my choice. The in-flight entertainment which featured movies in a number of regional Indian languages was the best part. The restroom was clean. Suggested!
"probably not use again"
W Mallen (United States) 6th October 2024
✅ Trip Verified | Flight was ok. Only 15 mins late. But no free water or drink that is ridiculous for what I paid. Staff was not overly friendly or welcoming. Would probably not use again as there are much cheaper options.
Emirates Airlines
Emirates Airlines' overall review is a 5/10 rating from 2400 reviews with 4 Star Airline Rating on Skytrax. Some of the reviews states:
"staff was very professional"2 reviews Dinesh Navaratne (Canada) 5th September 2024
✅ Trip Verified | This was my first time with the airline. Emirates food was amazing! The staff was very professional and helpful. I would fly again with them—I have no regrets about the money we spent.
"worth paying to avoid economy"
R Vines (United Kingdom) 8th July 2024
✅ Trip Verified | It was my first time flying premium economy on Emirates, and I'd happily do it again. The seats were wide, with plenty of legroom, and the food was quite good. Service was also fine. Shame they serve Prosecco and there is very limited choice on wines, but let's skip right past that. Obviously, I'd much rather fly business or first on Emirates, but this was better than the old business class on BA and worth paying to avoid economy.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport Experience
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) provides a more comfortable airport experience compared to larger hubs like Istanbul Airport due to its more compact size. The navigation is made simpler for domestic flights or short-haul international journeys. Here is an overview of some aspects that define Sabiha Gokcen.
Easy Navigation
One of Sabiha Gokcen's key advantages lies in its manageable size compared to Istanbul's primary airport. Shorter walking distances mean easier navigation between check-in counters, gates, and baggage claim areas making this airport ideal for travelers preferring straightforward airport experiences without traversing large terminals or taking shuttle buses to reach their gate.
Check-In Process at Sabiha Gokcen
As with many modern airports, Sabiha Gokcen provides self-check-in kiosks for major airlines like Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines that enable passengers to print boarding passes, select seats, and sometimes print luggage tags with minimal lines and effort required - ideal for travelers travelling light with carry-on luggage who wish to save time waiting in counter queues for check-in.
Traditional Check-In Counters
For passengers flying more traditional airlines or those who prefer face-to-face service, SAW provides several check-in counters at its airport that usually feature shorter wait times compared to Istanbul Airport - making the check-in process quicker for both Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways passengers as they have dedicated check-in desks that speed up this process further.
Baggage Drop Services
Self-check-in kiosk travelers also benefit from having baggage drop points where their checked bags can quickly and efficiently be dropped off, offering them the freedom of bypassing longer counter lines. This service makes self-boarding convenient.
Security and Immigration Experience at Sabiha Gokcen
Due to its smaller scale, Sabiha Gokcen often boasts faster security processes compared to Istanbul Airport. Security lines usually move smoothly; wait times may become longer during peak travel seasons or busy travel periods; most travelers report that staffing levels and equipment at Sabiha Gokcen provide for an excellent travel experience.
Effective Immigration Services at SAW: Domestic flights at SAW typically experience shorter immigration lines due to reduced long-haul international traffic, while passport control for international flights can often be handled efficiently but delays may occasionally arise during high traffic periods like holiday seasons.
