⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic → International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
150
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Hatay Airport (HTY) serves as the primary international gateway to the Hatay Province, providing vital air connectivity to the cities of Antakya and Iskenderun. The airport features a modern passenger terminal building that was significantly renovated and reopened following extensive repairs to the runway and infrastructure after the 2023 earthquake. The terminal is designed to handle both domestic and international traffic efficiently, with clearly demarcated zones for arrivals and departures.
Passengers at Hatay Airport have access to a variety of essential facilities, including several cafes and snack bars that serve traditional Turkish tea, coffee, and light meals. The terminal also houses a selection of small retail shops, duty-free options for international travelers, and basic banking services including ATMs. For business travelers and those seeking extra comfort, there are designated lounge areas available within the secure area of the terminal.
Navigating the airport is relatively simple due to its logical layout, with check-in counters centrally located in the main hall. Ground transportation is well-coordinated, with Havaş shuttle buses and local taxis providing regular service to downtown Antakya and the port city of Iskenderun. Despite the challenges faced in recent years, the airport has resumed its role as a bustling regional hub, supporting both commercial aviation and critical logistics for the southern Mediterranean region of Turkey.
🔄 Connection Tips
For travelers connecting through Hatay Airport, understanding the flow between domestic and international services is key. For a standard domestic-to-domestic transfer, such as arriving from Ankara on AJet and connecting to a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul, a minimum connection time of 60 minutes is usually sufficient, as all domestic operations are handled within the same terminal area. However, for those connecting from a domestic flight to a seasonal international charter service to Europe or a scheduled flight to the Middle East, it is crucial to allow a minimum of 2.5 hours.
This buffer is necessary to clear passport control, undergo additional international security screening, and move to the designated international departure gates. Passengers should verify their baggage-through-checking status; if you are on a single ticket with Turkish Airlines, your bags will likely be transferred automatically, but if you are self-transferring between a domestic low-cost carrier like Pegasus and an international airline, you will need to collect your luggage from the domestic carousel and re-check it at the international counters. The airport is compact, but during peak holiday periods, the lines for international check-in and security can be significant.
It's also important to note that the Havaş airport shuttle schedule is timed to coincide with the major flight banks of Turkish Airlines and Pegasus; if your connecting flight is with a less frequent international carrier, pre-arranging a taxi for your ground transfer is highly advisable to avoid any delays in reaching Antakya or Iskenderun. Finally, always double-check your gate assignment on the departure monitors, as gate changes can occur, particularly for seasonal charter flights that may use alternative boarding positions.
⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
40
minutes
Domestic → International
75
minutes
Interline Connections
110
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Adana Şakirpaşa Airport (ADA), with ICAO code LTAF, located in Adana, Turkey, has transitioned its primary role. As of August 10, 2024, all commercial airline passenger flights have ceased operations at this airport and have been relocated to the newly opened Çukurova International Airport. Consequently, the previous domestic and international terminals are no longer used for scheduled commercial passenger services. Adana Şakirpaşa Airport now primarily serves general aviation, private travel, pilot training, and air sports. The facilities, while historically designed for commercial passenger flow, are now adapted to support these non-commercial aviation activities.
The infrastructure at Adana Şakirpaşa, once a bustling commercial hub, now accommodates its general aviation focus. This includes maintenance facilities for smaller aircraft, hangars for private planes, and specialized areas for flight schools and air sports enthusiasts. While the terminal buildings remain, their purpose has shifted from high-volume passenger processing to supporting the technical and logistical needs of general aviation operations. Signage and services are now geared towards pilots, aircraft owners, and those involved in aviation training rather than the general public seeking commercial flights.
Security protocols at ADA are now tailored to general aviation standards, differing from the more stringent requirements of commercial passenger airports. Access control remains important for aircraft safety and operational security, but the extensive passenger screening procedures seen at commercial airports are no longer in place. Any basic amenities that remain are primarily for the convenience of general aviation users. Customs and immigration facilities, if still present, would be for specialized international general aviation flights only, requiring prior arrangement.
🔄 Connection Tips
Adana Şakirpaşa Airport ceased all commercial passenger operations on August 11, 2024, with all flights permanently transferred to the newly inaugurated Çukurova International Airport (COV) located 35 kilometers west in Tarsus district, Mersin Province. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened the modern 110,051-square-meter terminal designed for 9 million annual passengers, replacing the capacity-constrained urban airport that had operated near its 6.5 million passenger limit with no room for expansion due to its central city location just 5 kilometers from downtown Adana.
Commercial aviation connections now exclusively operate through Çukurova International Airport serving both Adana and Mersin provinces, with Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress, and international carriers providing domestic connections to Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir, plus international services to European and Middle Eastern destinations. The massive transition involved transferring 250 pieces of equipment using 80 trucks and 275 personnel completed in just 4 hours, well ahead of the planned 12-hour timeline, with the new airport recording 1,917,538 passengers from August to December 2024 and over 30,000 aircraft movements in its first operational year.
Ground transportation to COV includes Havaş shuttle services connecting the airport to Adana and Mersin city centers, while the former Şakirpaşa Airport now exclusively serves general aviation, private aircraft, pilot training, and air sports activities. Travelers should note the significantly increased travel time from Adana center (35 km to COV versus the former 5 km to ADA) and verify departure airports carefully when booking, as the old centrally-located facility no longer handles any commercial passenger services. The transition represents Turkey's largest airport infrastructure upgrade in the Mediterranean region, supporting the growing Çukurova economic zone with modern aviation facilities designed for future expansion and international connectivity.
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