Latest news with #SabihaGökçenInternationalAirport
Business Insider
21-05-2025
- Business Insider
I spent a month in Turkey with friends. Our trip was great, but would've been better if we'd avoided these 5 mistakes.
I spent a month in Turkey with a group of friends. We had fun, but made a few mistakes. We didn't realize Istanbul had two international airports or that çay had so much caffeine. I wish I hadn't exchanged my currency in the airport or bought so many souvenirs at Grand Bazaar. In November, I went on a monthlong girls' trip to Turkey. Before we left, I spent many evenings researching must-see attractions, searching for cute lodging options, and maintaining my Diamond League status learning Turkish on Duolingo. My preparations paid off, and we had a great trip — but my friends and I made a few mistakes that we'll be sure to avoid next time. We didn't realize there was more than one major airport in Istanbul. Istanbul is the biggest city I've ever visited — it's so large that it actually hosts two international airports. Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side of the city and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is on the Asian side. It can take about two hours to get from one airport to the other by bus. My friends and I all flew into IST, but some of our group booked domestic flights out of SAW the following morning without realizing it was a different airport in Istanbul. We all made our flights, but we had to split up into different hotels during our Istanbul layover, one near IST and one near SAW. I shouldn't have exchanged my money at the airport. Since I arrived in Istanbul was after business hours, I figured my best option was to exchange US dollars for liras at the airport despite the poor exchange rate. After all, it seemed like a bad idea to enter a new city without any cash. However, I regretted my decision as soon as I left the airport and found that many exchange counters in the city were open late — and had better rates. It was also easy to find ATMs throughout the trip. After that first money mishap at the airport, I got all my liras from Halkbank ATMs, which didn't charge me fees. It took me too long to realize one of the most popular local drinks is packed with caffeine. Turkish tea, or "çay" (pronounced like "chai"), is a popular drink in Turkey, and sharing tea is an important part of Turkish culture. For my first few days in Turkey, I accepted tea whenever it was offered. It was inexpensive and delicious, and I was eager to participate in local rituals. I was offered the tea at restaurants, shops, and even at the dentist's office (I was there for a bit of medical tourism). What I didn't realize at first, though, is that çay is pretty caffeinated. Although it varies depending on the strength of the brew, an average cup can contain over 40 milligrams of caffeine — about half of the caffeine in a standard cup of coffee. I ended up overpaying for souvenirs at the famous Grand Bazaar. I loved browsing the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but I wish I hadn't bought souvenirs there. The famed Turkish market and its mazes of different stalls felt overwhelming in a good way. I was captivated by the endless colors of Turkish textiles, the rich smells of spices and teas, and the banter of shopkeepers trying to entice us into their stores. I bought a few things at the Grand Bazaar, but I wish I'd held out on shopping until the next day, when we took the ferry to Kadikoy, a neighborhood on the other side of the Bosphorus. I found many of the same wares in Kadikoy that I'd seen at the Grand Bazaar, oftentimes for almost a tenth of the price. It also would've been smart to check US customs regulations before buying souvenirs. Turkey is famous for its cuisine, and eating my weight in baklava was a highlight of my monthlong trip. When it was time to return home, I wanted to bring back some of my favorite Turkish delicacies as Christmas gifts for my family. Shops in Istanbul made it easy to bring home food, with some sellers even offering to vacuum-seal items like baklava and olives. Most of my culinary delights made it home, but I was heartbroken and slightly embarrassed when my giant bag of dried persimmons was confiscated upon my return to the US. As it turns out, most dried fruits and vegetables from other countries aren't allowed to be brought into the country. I should've checked the guidelines before shopping.
Tourism Breaking News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
flyadeal to serve Turkey's Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen and Alexandria in Egypt
flyadeal is expanding its regional network this summer to cover Istanbul's secondary airport Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria, the airline's fourth destination in Egypt. Saudi Arabia's fast growing low-cost airline will launch daily scheduled flights between Riyadh and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul on 29 May. These will complement flyadeal's popular services from both the Saudi capital and Jeddah to the primary Istanbul Airport on the city's European side. Beginning 2 June the historical port city of Alexandria will be served four-times-a-week from Jeddah. With the addition of Alexandria, flyadeal strengthens operations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt – its largest international market – to 69 weekly frequencies covering Cairo, Sohag and seasonal flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam.
Zawya
27-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Fflyadeal to serve Turkey's Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria in Egypt
Regional Expansion To Be Promoted At Arabian Travel Market In Dubai Jeddah, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia – flyadeal is expanding its regional network this summer to cover Istanbul's secondary airport Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria, the airline's fourth destination in Egypt. Saudi Arabia's fast growing low-cost airline will launch daily scheduled flights between Riyadh and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul on May 29. These will complement flyadeal's popular services from both the Saudi capital and Jeddah to the primary Istanbul Airport on the city's European side. Beginning June 2, the historical port city of Alexandria will be served four-times-a-week from Jeddah. With the addition of Alexandria, flyadeal strengthens operations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt – its largest international market – to 69 weekly frequencies covering Cairo, Sohag and seasonal flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam. Tickets for the two new routes are now on sale, bookable via flyadeal's Mobile App, website and through travel agents with a price promise of competitive fares on all flights every day of the week. The expansion will be among several company developments to be highlighted by flyadeal during Arabian Travel Market – the Middle East's largest travel trade event – taking place in Dubai this week as the airline returns to the annual show with a dedicated exhibition stand. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: 'Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul is a welcome addition to our network being a prime example of our commitment to provide our passengers with greater choices such as flying into one airport and out of another in the same city. 'Expanding into Alexandria builds on the strong commercial and cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and especially with Jeddah being the gateway for Hajj and Umrah pilgrim travel to the Holy city of Madinah. The twin route expansion is part of our incredible growth drive through the induction of new routes and adding frequencies that give our customers more options of flights and destinations in popular and new markets.' The contrast between both sides of Istanbul is strikingly evident – the European part is steeped in history with wonderful sights including the signature Blue Mosque and a lively atmosphere, while the Asian side enjoys a rich heritage, vibrant culture and diverse neighbourhoods. With dozens of ferries operating daily between east and west, Istanbul remains a firm favourite for visitors from around the world. Alexandria, the Mediterranean coast's largest city, is one of North Africa's most popular tourist destinations given its beaches and famed landmarks dating back to the Greco Roman period. Greenway added: 'Over the next few days, Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria, together with our wide-ranging expansion plans during 2025 will be among the many areas of discussion during Arabian Travel Market that begins in Dubai on Monday. My team and I look forward to a thoroughly engaging few days with industry partners that promises to further elevate flyadeal on the regional stage.' Since inception in 2017, flyadeal has been catapulted into the region's fastest growing airline with a fleet of 38 Airbus A320 family aircraft serving over 30 seasonal and year-round destinations in Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. Aside from scheduled operations which represent the backbone of flyadeal's business, the airline will expand its year-round dedicated Umrah pilgrim flights to destinations beyond the Middle East and central Asia over the next few months. About flyadeal On 23 September 2017, National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, flyadeal began operations with its historic maiden flight from Jeddah to Riyadh. A pioneer and innovator, flyadeal was the first regional low-cost airline to be launched only across digital distribution channels. Being the sister airline of full-service national carrier Saudia — both under the umbrella ownership of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation (Saudia Group) — flyadeal was created for the price-conscious and tech-savvy consumer in mind in a market where 80 per cent of the Saudi population is aged less than 40 years and has at least two mobile phones. flyadeal aims to stimulate travel, tourism and trade with its affordable, value for money everyday fares catering to leisure, religious, family and business travellers. Simplicity is key with an all-Economy Class cabin across flyadeal's narrowbody fleet. With the Kingdom undergoing dramatic transformation through its Vision 2030 economic diversification drive, aviation and tourism are among the many sectors earmarked for dynamic growth. Today, flyadeal is one of the youngest and fastest growing low-cost airlines in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, recognised for excellence in on-time performance that is consistently above the global industry average. flyadeal operates a young fleet of Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft flying from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to destinations across Saudi Arabia with a growing international footprint in Europe, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. The airline has flown over 35 million passengers since its inaugural flight. In May 2024, flyadeal placed its biggest ever order for 51 aircraft – 12 A320neos and 39 larger A321neos – with a delivery schedule beginning in 2026. In addition, flyadeal will operate long-haul scheduled services from 2027 with the phased induction of 10 Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft ordered by Saudia Group in April 2025. By 2030, flyadeal plans to operate hundreds of routes that will see its fleet and network triple in number to over 100 aircraft and destinations, respectively. flyadeal's aggressive expansion drive makes the rapidly growing airline one of the country's most desirable companies to work for.
