Istanbul Airport (IST) Air Cargo and Apparel Freight Guide
Istanbul Airport is Türkiye's largest international gateway and one of the busiest air cargo hubs in the world. It sits in Arnavutköy on the European side of the city, about 35 km northwest of the centre, and it is the base for Turkish Airlines and for the Turkish Cargo terminal known as SMARTIST. For an apparel importer, IST is the fastest route into Türkiye and a natural crossroads for shipments moving between Europe, the Gulf, Central Asia, and Africa.
- 84.5 M passengers in 2025
- 2.09 M t air cargo in 2025
- 90 M annual passenger capacity
- 4,100 m longest runway
Istanbul Airport (IST), the international and cargo gateway
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), mostly low cost and domestic
Crossroads of four trade regions
- Europe
Widebody lanes into the European Union, then bonded road feeder across the Balkans and Central Europe.
- Gulf and Middle East
High frequency connections that also feed the Philippine origin uplift through the same hub.
- Central Asia
Turkic states and the wider region reachable through a single hub without a second long haul leg.
- Africa
One of the widest African networks of any carrier, useful for multi country apparel programmes.
Türkiye's principal international air gateway
Istanbul Airport opened in October 2018 and took over all scheduled passenger flights from Atatürk Airport in April 2019. Cargo operations consolidated at the site in February 2022. It is the largest airport in Türkiye, the largest privately owned airport operation in the world, and the second busiest airport in Europe.
A single terminal under one roof
The main terminal is about 1,440,000 square metres and was built for 90 million passengers a year. Five concourses and 143 boarding bridges handle the flow, and the air traffic control tower is shaped like a tulip, the national flower of Türkiye.
- Main terminal about 1,440,000 square metres
- Five concourses, A, B, D, F, and G
- 143 passenger boarding bridges
European side, global reach
The airport is in Arnavutköy on the European side, about 35 km northwest of the city centre. It has regular flights to up to 122 countries and serves the capital region together with the wider Marmara industrial market.
- About 35 km northwest of the city centre
- Metro line M11 connects the airport to the city
- Elevation about 99 m above sea level
A dedicated cargo campus
The SMARTIST cargo terminal opened in February 2022 and handles about 1,500 cargo operations a day. A second phase announced in January 2026 will extend the footprint and raise annual capacity, with a dedicated online commerce complex also planned.
- About 205,000 square metres in phase one
- Rated for about 2.2 million tonnes a year
- Phase two targets about 4.5 million tonnes
Istanbul Airport (IST)
IST is the main international and cargo gateway for the city and the base for Turkish Cargo. Almost all air freight into Istanbul uses this airport, and the cargo campus sits within the same site as the passenger terminal.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side and mostly serves low cost, domestic, and regional traffic. It is a passenger focused airport, so apparel air freight into Türkiye is planned through IST.
The terminal complex and cargo areas
Istanbul Airport runs as a single terminal building with five concourses, alongside the cargo campus and its own customs offices. This ledger maps the areas that matter to an apparel air shipment.
| Area | Function | Relevance to apparel air freight |
|---|---|---|
| Main terminal | Single roof check in, security, and passenger processing | Where courier and hand carried commercial samples join passenger services |
| Concourse G | Domestic flights only | Carries domestic bellyhold capacity for onward moves inside Türkiye |
| Concourses A, B, D, F | International flights | Widebody bellyhold capacity on long haul services toward Europe, Asia, and Africa |
| SMARTIST cargo campus | Turkish Cargo terminal with automated storage and robotic handling | Acceptance, build up, storage, and release of consolidated apparel freight |
| On site customs | Ministry of Trade customs office at the airport | Import declaration, inspection, and release under Turkish customs procedures |
| Metro station | Istanbul Metro line M11 at İstanbul Havalimanı | Staff and sample access between the airport and the city |
Plan around the cargo campus, not the passenger halls
Apparel freight is accepted and released at the SMARTIST campus rather than the passenger terminal. Ground handling, customs hours, and truck slot booking all run to the cargo calendar, so confirm the receiving window with the air desk before the shipment is dispatched.
The SMARTIST cargo campus
Turkish Cargo consolidated all freighter and bellyhold operations at its SMARTIST terminal in February 2022. The facility uses automated storage and retrieval, robotic unit load device handling, and temperature controlled zones, and it holds IATA Smart Facility Operational Capacity certification.
Automated handling
Phase one covers about 205,000 square metres and is rated for roughly 2.2 million tonnes a year. Around 1,500 cargo operations are handled each day, supported by about 17,000 bulk cargo positions and about 2,000 unit load device positions.
- Automated storage and retrieval system
- Robotic unit load device storage
- Secure storage under customs control
Specialised zones
Beyond general cargo, the terminal holds temperature controlled zones, a dedicated pharmaceutical area, and designated handling areas for hazardous and radioactive materials. Apparel uses the general and temperature controlled zones.
- Temperature controlled storage
- Dedicated pharmaceutical area
- Designated dangerous goods handling
Freighter and bellyhold
Turkish Cargo operates a dedicated freighter fleet supported by the belly capacity of Turkish Airlines passenger aircraft. Reported fleet strength in late 2025 was ten Airbus A330 freighters and nine Boeing 777 freighters, with more widebody freighters on order.
- Dedicated widebody freighter services
- Belly capacity on passenger aircraft
- Suited to light, high value apparel
Phase two expands the campus
A second phase announced in January 2026 is set to extend the SMARTIST footprint to about 340,000 square metres and raise annual capacity to about 4.5 million tonnes, delivered progressively in 2027 and 2028. A dedicated online commerce complex is also planned. Until the expansion is complete, plan capacity around the phase one envelope.
Turkish customs and import compliance
Apparel entering Türkiye by air is handled by the Ministry of Trade through the electronic customs systems, together with product safety and technical rules that apply to textiles. These points are planning prompts, not a tariff ruling; confirm the exact product scope with a licensed broker before labels and packaging are approved.
GTIP classification
Türkiye classifies imports under the GTIP tariff nomenclature, which is aligned with the European Union Combined Nomenclature. The GTIP code sets the duty position and any additional charge, so the product description on the invoice should match the code exactly.
- GTIP code sets duty and additional charges
- Aligned with the EU Combined Nomenclature
- Broker confirms the code for the garment
KDV import VAT
Türkiye applies KDV, the value added tax, on imports. The standard rate is 20 percent, assessed on the customs value plus duty and other charges. Importers that are registered can generally recover or offset the KDV under the normal rules.
- Standard KDV rate of 20 percent
- Assessed on customs value plus duty
- Registered importers offset under normal rules
TAREKS conformity
TAREKS is the Ministry of Trade system for product safety and technical regulation. Textiles and apparel can be subject to conformity checks and labelling rules, and a consignment may be held until the required documents are verified.
- Product safety and technical regulation checks
- Textile labelling rules can apply
- Documents should be ready before arrival
BILGE declaration
Import declarations are lodged electronically in the BILGE customs system by a licensed broker. Clearance confirms the tariff line and the duty and KDV position before the consignment leaves the cargo campus.
- Electronic declaration through BILGE
- Licensed broker lodges on the importer behalf
- Release follows assessment and any inspection
Documentation to prepare
Air shipments clear fastest when the master and house air waybill, the commercial invoice with Incoterms and currency, the packing list with net and gross weights, the certificate of origin, and any conformity certificate agree with one another. A mismatch between the manifest and the invoice is the most common cause of a customs hold.
Air freight routing from the Philippines to Istanbul
Philippine apparel reaches Istanbul through the Turkish Cargo network and its partner carriers. The board below follows a typical booking from origin uplift to arrival at the SMARTIST campus. Confirm the current schedule with the air desk, because capacity and connections change by season.
| Origin | IATA | Typical routing to IST | Planning transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manila, NAIA | MNL | Widebody bellyhold or freighter through the Turkish Cargo network | 2 to 4 days |
| Clark | CRK | Bellyhold or freighter to a hub, then onward to IST | 3 to 5 days |
| Mactan Cebu | CEB | Regional uplift then connection through a major hub | 3 to 5 days |
| Davao | DVO | Domestic feed then international linehaul to IST | 3 to 6 days |
Production is separate from transit
Custom apparel production normally takes 3 to 6 weeks after sample, artwork, and payment approval, and the air transit time is additional. For a season launch or a restock, book the air leg against a confirmed production ready date rather than the order date.
Philippine export gateways behind the air leg
Air uplift is one part of a Philippine apparel export. Mindanao cargo also moves through the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City, a modern deepwater container port with post Panamax ship to shore cranes and fast truck turnaround. The Hijo Special Economic Zone (HSEZ) in Tagum City adds the deepwater Hijo International Port, cold chain infrastructure, and clean solar grid power. For programmes that mix air and sea, these gateways carry the volume while air carries the urgent portion.
Onward distribution from Istanbul
Once released at the cargo campus, apparel moves by road or rail. The airport links to the North Marmara motorway network and to both sides of the city, feeding the main commercial centres and the Marmara sea gateways.
Istanbul and the Marmara region
The airport sits on the European side, and the city spreads across both sides of the Bosphorus. Most importers clear at the cargo campus and distribute across the Istanbul metropolitan region within a day.
Anatolia and the interior
Road feeder services reach Bursa, Izmir, Ankara, and the organised industrial zones across Anatolia, connecting the airport to Türkiye's textile and garment manufacturing base.
The Ambarli sea gateway
For volume that switches between air and sea, the Port of Ambarli on the Marmara handles containerized apparel and links inland by road. Air carries the urgent portion while the balance sails.
Frequently asked questions about Istanbul air cargo
Clear answers on codes, location, the cargo campus, routing, compliance, and documentation for apparel air freight through Istanbul Airport.
What are the official codes for Istanbul Airport?
Istanbul Airport uses IATA code IST and ICAO code LTFM. The IATA code IST was transferred from the former Atatürk Airport when passenger services moved to the new site in 2019, and those identifiers appear on air waybills, booking confirmations, and customs declarations.
Where is Istanbul Airport located?
Istanbul Airport is in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, about 35 km northwest of the city centre. It is the larger of the two international airports serving the city, alongside Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side.
Which cargo terminal does Turkish Cargo use at Istanbul Airport?
Turkish Cargo operates from the SMARTIST terminal at Istanbul Airport, where all freighter and bellyhold operations were consolidated in February 2022. Phase one covers about 205,000 square metres and is rated for roughly 2.2 million tonnes a year, with a second phase planned to raise capacity to about 4.5 million tonnes.
Can apparel fly from the Philippines to Istanbul Airport?
Yes. Philippine apparel reaches IST through the Turkish Cargo network and its partner carriers, using widebody bellyhold or freighter capacity. There is no single fixed schedule for every origin, so the routing is planned around available capacity from Manila, Clark, Cebu, or Davao. Confirm the current options with the air desk.
What customs systems apply to an air import into Türkiye?
Imports are declared electronically in the BILGE customs system, classified under the GTIP tariff nomenclature, and assessed for KDV at the standard rate of 20 percent on the customs value plus duty. Textiles and apparel can also be subject to TAREKS product safety and technical regulation checks and to labelling rules. A licensed broker should confirm the tariff line and the applicable charges for the specific order.
What documents should accompany an air shipment to IST?
Prepare the master and house air waybill, the commercial invoice with Incoterms and currency, the packing list with net and gross weights, the certificate of origin, and any conformity certificate required for the product. Keeping these documents consistent avoids the customs holds that a manifest mismatch can trigger.
How long does apparel air freight from the Philippines to Istanbul take?
Production normally takes 3 to 6 weeks after sample, artwork, and payment approval, and air transit is additional. Airport to airport transit is typically a few days depending on the origin and the connection, so confirm a door to door estimate with the forwarder before booking.
Discuss an air shipment to Istanbul
Send the garment type, quantity, sizes, decoration method, target delivery date, and destination city. Our export desk will confirm the air routing options from the Philippines and the documentation needed for Türkiye.