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January 20, 2013Istanbul Atatürk Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on July 5, 2024
With the movement of all passenger flights to the new Istanbul Airport (now IST) on April 6/7 2019, the old Atatürk (now ISL) airport is now pretty calm. Only a few TK cargo, Kalitta, RJ Cargo and government/VIP flights remain here. TK, Onur and MNG Cargo still have a maintenance base there. Sometimes russians and Ukrainian Airlines visit ISL for maintenance too. The spotting locations in this guide are still existing but the sample pictuers are no longer mandatory.
Written by Julian Mittnacht, Jeremy Denton and Dirk Weinrich, Ömür Sadıkoğlu (Last update November 2019)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 17L/35R | 3.000 m (9.843 ft) No longer in use! |
| 17R/35L | 3.000 m (9.843 ft) No longer in use! |
| 05/23 | 2.580 m (8.465 ft) |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not needed. |
| Restrooms | Public Toilet at the beach and the FlyInn Shopping Mall |
| Drinks/Food | Lot of Snack Bars/Restaurants are at the beach (Yeşilköy Marina) or the FlyInn Shopping Mall |
| Hotels | Most hotels are pretty close to the Terminal but we ‘recommend’ the Airport Inn Hotel at Yeşilköy Marina as its in a walkable distance to the spots and you have a lot of restaurants next to you as well as the train station to the city. There is also a brand new Crown Plaza Hotel just next to spot #2, where you can take pictures from the rooftop bar, but it’s not as good for pictures as the walkway along the shore. |
| Season | There is no special season but its very hot in the summer. Less heat haze problems as you are pretty close to the aircraft. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 05/23 | 80 percent of the day 05 is in use for arrivals |
| 17L/35R | No longer in use as new airports runway intersect with this one |
| 17R/35L | No longer in use as new airports runway intersect with this one |
 |
Spot #1 – Fly Inn Shopping Mall |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is on the top floor of the shopping mall on a balcony, next to the Lavazza Best Coffee Shop and next to the food court of the Fly Inn Shopping Mall, located in Florya. Taxi ride is approximate 10 minutes from the airport. If you stay at Florya park (spot 2), you can easily walk to this position. Just follow the path that is shown on the map. Footwalk is appr. 20 minutes From the balcony, you have 2 areas (one for the Lavazza Best Coffee Shop where you can sit only if you buy something from the Coffee Shop or you can sit on the orange tables where you can eat fast food from any of the other eateries. However, I draw your attention to the fact that if you sit and consume in the Lavazza Coffee, you could ask the server for the Wi-Fi, that could be a help to watch FR24.A better option could be to use Pippo Restaurant, (next door to the main balcony). Again, provided you buy something to eat or drink, the staff are OK for you to use their balcony, which is slightly better because you can avoid getting the fence in your photos for smaller aircraft. It’s also easier to see the approach for Runway 05. You can use their wifi and you’re less likely to be harassed by the police at this spot. |
| WHAT | Flyinn shopping mall still in use but you can only take some photos in taxiing from V apron (general aviation apron) to active runway via parallel runways. |
| TIME | Best time is from 13:30 until 20:20. In the end of afternoon you can also catch the 05 arrivals around 18:00 (depend on the heat haze) |
| MISC. | Its a great place for spotting as you have all the facilities that you need just behind you. You can sit there on a table in the shade and can have a drink. Do you want more? SECURITY NOTE: THIS IS USUALLY THE SAFEST PLACE FOR OUR HOBBY AT ISTANBUL AND HOPEFULLY YOU WON’T BE DISTURBED. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE SPOT AND SPOTTERS ARE A KNOWN SIGHT BUT SOMETIMES SECURITY SERVICES WILL PASS AND RECENTLY THE AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN ASKING PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE PHOTOS, SO REMEMBER, BE DISCREET! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Runway 35L = 170mm C295 / 116mm 175 / 95mm 320 / 50mm 773 Runway 35R = 210mm 320 / 170mm 739 / 140mm 332 / 116mm 345 Runway 05 = 500mm 319 / 340mm ABF / 290mm 332 / 240mm 773 |
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Spot #2 – Florya Park / boardwalk – 05 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | All along the board walk is this spot located. To get there take a taxi from the airport to Florya Park, which is a popular relaxing place for the locals as its close to the beaches and is perfect to escape from the trouble of Istanbul City. If you are coming from the FlyInn mall use the tagged footpath on the map (walking time is 20 minutes). The spot is directly along the water so just find a place along the board walk where you would stay. Another opportunity is to visit the Sosyal Tesisler Restaurant with its large terrasse and large shades over the table protect you from the sun as well. But you need to buy drinks etc. to stay here for a longer time! |
| WHAT | You get all the arrivals if RWY 05 is in use (what is most of the time). |
| TIME | From early morning until around 14:00. Be careful about the weather in morning. Mostly of the time lots of clouds are coming from the north with little rains also until around 12:30. |
| MISC. | There is a public restroom (tagged on the map) next to the beach and some restaurants close to the park. Less shadow along the boardwalk but enough benches to have a seat. SECUTIRY NOTE: Usually you don’t have trouble with the police here and the locals are very friendly too but keep a low profile. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Runway 05 = 340mm 319 / 290mm 738 / 210mm 788 |
Pictures taken from the restaurant:
 |
Spot #3 – Turkish Air Force – Museum |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The museum is famous and lots of signs could be found on the road. You can reached the museum from Airport Inn Hotel by walk or take a taxi. It’s on Eski Havaalani Cd. street. |
| WHAT | Around 30 war aircraft could be taken like F-16, F-4, F-5, Transall, etc. |
| TIME | Open everyday except Monday from 09.00 to 16.00. From 10.00 on weekends. |
| MISC. | Entrance fee is 400TL (13 us dollars). Check the official website for more infos. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-55mm in enough |
 |
Spot #4 – Ataköy Shopping Mall – 23 Arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The shopping mall is located in the city district Ataköy, close to the harbor and the Hyatt Regency. You can easily reach it by car and public transport. The spot itself is in a corner of the valet parking in the north east corner just a few meters from the main entrance. |
| WHAT | Arrvials on 23 only from this position. |
| TIME | From morning until late noon. |
| MISC. | You find everything you need within the mall. Supermarket, Restrooms, Fast Food… SECURITY NOTE: THERE IS A SECURITY CAMERA FOR THIS PARKING AREA SO STAY CLOSE TO THE HANDRAIL TO AVOID TO BE IN SIGHT. KEEP A LOW PROFILE AND STORE YOUR CAMERA AFTER YOU HAVE DONE THE PICTURE. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A320 = 250mm; 787 = 190mm |
I visited the museum today. They don’t open until 10:00 on weekends. I was charged 400TL (13 us dollars) for the ticket. Much more expensive than before
[…] airport in the Arnavutköy district, north of the city of Istanbul (also on the European side). The old airport “Atatürk” (now ISL), which is located directly in the city of Istanbul, had been operating at its limit, and since it […]
Hi Julian, do you have any idea about when will you make a spotting guide about new Istanbul airport? Thanks much!
Hi, when we get the infos from our local sources. But seems like the situation is still unclear there.
If you check the photo websites you won’t find much pictures from there.
-Julian
IGA (operator of Airport) said they will be making spotters place. I (or somebody local) will be updating. (Photos taken on LTFM was special access. theres no public spotter location as 18/06/19.)
Hello Julian,
From what I have been reading Ataturk my not close until the end of this year as they are going very slow with transferring to the new airport. I am planning on a spotting trip to DUB and AMS with IST as a priority. Would I be good for the trip in September? What would the movements be like then and the weather conditions? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated as I would be coming from Chicago.
Brian
Hi Brian, the weather is still okay in September and getting worse from October. Its not too hot like in June/July but more chance of rain.
Traffic should be still fine because Turkish Airlines is actually the only airline using ISL (new one) and I think other airlines will move later on.
I would give it a try. Otherwise you will need to go to ISL 🙂
-Julian
Hey guys, I’ve got a 3:30-hour layover at IST and was wondering if I can visit the Flyinn Mall and spend an hour plane spotting. Do you think it is possible? I’m flying from Tehran to Paris via Istanbul with Atlasglobal.
Hi Guys,
Is there any update on people having issues with plane spotting at the FlyInn in 2019? Will probably be there next week.
Thanks
Aaron
Hi Aaron, nothing heard the past weeks. If you have trouble, go to the Pippo Restaurant. Same sight, same place and no ones bother you.
-Julian
I’ve been to Flyinn twice and I never had problems with the police/security. Just get a cup of coffee from the cafe upstairs and you should be fine.
Hi everyone.. I will be in Istanbul next week, do you think a Sigma 50-500 will catch too much attention from the crime and authorities? I will only be using it on my last in Istanbul for planespotting.
Hi, don´t think so especially if you stay in the mall. Lot of people use their Canon 100-400 which is a bit smaller without issues.
-Julian
Two questions. If I fly out this weekend, will the light be reasonable from the FlyInn in the afternoon for photos? Second, what is the security situation like, given the current diplomatic situation? Any answers would be appreciated.
Hi Tim. Yes, the light is good in the afternoon for a few hours. I know a couple of people who went there in the past 1-2 months and they had absolutley no problems! But go into the Pippo Restaurant in the mall for taking photos and not from the known balcony.
-Julian
Hello All,
I’m a spotter from Hong Kong and spent a few wonderful days in IST. Thanks for the detailed info here I had a safe and fruitful journey.
Here I would like to share some experience of my trip.
I’ve spent most of my time at Flyinn Shopping mall which I think is one of the best spots ever. Spotting outside the shopping mall may catch the eyes of the local people and therefore it is recommended to do it in low profile.
I stayed in Gorrion Hotel, in case you want to take pictures in the morning for RW 35L/R departure, you can try 41° 0’2.26″N 28°49’17.39″E.
Wishing all happy and safe spotting
Thanks for your feedback Lawrence. Happy spotting, Julian