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Business Class Flights to Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, is home to more than 15 million people, which is nearly 20 percent of Turkey’s total population, making it the most highly populated city in Europe. Istanbul is famous for being in both Europe and Asia, as the Bosporus Strait dividing the two continents runs through it. The city has a long history, dating back to 667 BCE when it was founded by the ancient Greeks as the city of Byzantium. The ancient Romans ruled the city for a number of centuries, renaming it Constantinople after the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.

 

Today, Istanbul is a European Capital of Culture, home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. More than 13 million visitors book business-class flights to Istanbul each year for both work and leisure travel.

 

Flights to Istanbul arrive at one of the city’s three international airports. Istanbul International Airport (IST) is the city’s newest airport. It opened in 2018, northwest of the city center in the Istanbul suburb of Arnavutkoy. Istanbul International Airport handles more than 64 million passengers each year, of which, 45 million are international travelers. The airport is a hub for Turkish Airlines. Cheap flights to Istanbul International Airport are often available on low-cost carriers.

 

The city’s other large airport is Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), which is located about 28 miles southeast of the city in the Istanbul suburb of Pendik. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport was built in 2001 to ease traffic at the city’s third and oldest airport, Istanbul Ataturk International Airport. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport serves more than 30 million passengers each year. 

 

Direct flights to Istanbul are available from most large cities around the world including London, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Marseilles, New York, San Francisco, Vienna, and Tel Aviv.

 

Because of its size, Istanbul has a large economy. Several thousand business travelers who work in a variety of industries book flights to Istanbul each year, and the city has long been considered Turkey’s financial hub. It is home to a number of large banks, financial firms, and insurance companies. 

 

As it was in ancient times, so it continues to be in modern times. Due to its location on the border between Europe and Asia, the city is also an important port, making shipping and logistics one of Istanbul’s largest industries. The Bosporus Strait is the only waterway that allows ships to travel from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Much of the petroleum exported from the Middle East to Europe travels through Istanbul.

 

Tourism is also one of the Istanbul’s main economic drivers. More than 13 million tourists book flights to Istanbul each year. The city is home to a large number of historic sites and more than 30 museums. The Topkapi Palace Museum, a restored Ottoman castle built in the 15th century, is one of Istanbul’s most popular museums with more than 3 million visitors per year. Historically, it was both the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire, as well as home to the sultans. The museum includes an extensive library, as well as a beautiful garden for visitors looking to explore the grounds. 

 

Shopping is also a popular activity for tourists who book flights to Istanbul. The city’s Grand Bazaar, a marketplace which has been in operation since the 15th century, is a must-see for visitors. The city’s Spice Bazaar, open since the 17th century, is also quite popular.

 

Because the city is home to more than 60 universities, Istanbul has a very large student population. Istanbul University, the city’s oldest, was founded in 1453 and has an enrollment of more than 64,000 students. Students from across the Middle East and Europe often book cheap flights to Istanbul to study in the city alongside students native to Turkey.