New Strategic Connection from Sabiha Gökçen

Direct flights from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Atyrau, a port city in Kazakhstan and one of the important stops on the historical Silk Road, have begun. The Istanbul-Caspian bridge, which will be strengthened with flights that will operate twice a week, is expected to develop economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (ISG) International Airport, Türkiye's 2nd largest airport and Europe's 8th largest airport in terms of passenger numbers, continues to offer passengers more connection options by increasing its flight variety.

Direct flights from Istanbul, where the Asian and European continents meet, to another point where these two continents meet; Kazakhstan’s main port city Atyrau, based in Sabiha Gökçen, began on May 14, 2025. Divided in two by the Ural River, which forms the Asian border of Europe to the east, Atyrau is almost entirely in the Asian continent, while a small part is in Europe.

Pegasus Airlines has started direct flights from its main base, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), to the city of Atyrau (GUW) twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The first flight from Istanbul to Atyrau took off after a ceremony held at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. With Pegasus’ Atyrau route, a strong link has been added to the air bridge between Central Asia and Turkey.

This new connection is Sabiha Gökçen's fifth flight destination in Kazakhstan, adding a new one to Pegasus' previous flights to Almaty, Shymkent, Astana and Aktau.

Atyrau, the pearl of the Caspian Sea, is now closer

The launch of direct flights to Atyrau, an important stop on the historical Silk Road, opens an exciting door for those who want to discover different cultures and strengthen their business connections. Combining the spirit of the West and the East on the banks of the Ural River, Atyrau is a strategically located, modern and dynamic city. Located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the port city of Atyrau plays a critical role in the Kazakh economy with its rich oil and natural gas reserves. The SAW ↔️ GUW connection is expected to facilitate travel between Türkiye and Kazakhstan, making significant contributions to trade and cultural relations and tourism.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Istanbul's gateway to the world, strengthens its access to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa every day, while connecting Istanbul's cultural and historical riches to 52 countries and 105 international destinations around the world.