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Our History

1987

In 1987, the Defense Industry Executive Committee decided to establish the “Advanced Technology Industrial Park and Civil Aviation Center (İTEP)” in the Pendik Kurtköy area. This project, prepared by the Presidency of Defense Industry, aimed to create a center of excellence in the fields of defense industry, advanced technology, and aviation, with Sabiha Gökçen Airport planned as the first phase of this holistic vision.

As the first implementation step of the ITEP Project, Sabiha Gökçen Airport was constructed on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, with an annual capacity of 3 million international passengers, 500,000 domestic passengers, and 90,000 tons of cargo. The airport is positioned not only as a transportation facility serving civil aviation but also as a strategic infrastructure investment supporting the defense industry ecosystem.

On January 27, 2000, it was decided that all revenues from the operation of Sabiha Gökçen Airport would be used for projects aimed at developing the technological infrastructure of our country’s defense industry and meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces. Within this framework, Airport Operations and Aviation Industries Inc. (HEAŞ), a publicly owned joint-stock company, was established under the provisions of the Turkish Commercial Code, and the airport operation began to be managed by HEAŞ with a 96.4% capital share held by the Presidency of Defense Industry.

Opened to traffic on January 8, 2001, Sabiha Gökçen Airport became Istanbul’s second, the Anatolian side’s first, and Turkey’s first privately operated airport. Since its opening, it has operated as a modern airport, steadily increasing its passenger capacity with an approach that prioritizes contemporary aviation standards, safety, and customer satisfaction.

As a result of the tender held in July 2007, ground handling services, fuel, terminal and warehouse operations were transferred to İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı Yapım Yatırım ve İşletim A.Ş. (İSG), a joint venture between Limak–GMR–Malaysia Airports, as of May 1, 2008. With this process, HEAŞ began to fulfill its duties and responsibilities as the Sabiha Gökçen Airport Authority.

On December 25, 2014, the ownership structure of HEAŞ was updated with the transfer of HEAŞ shares belonging to TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, and HAVELSAN to the Turkish Armed Forces Strengthening Foundation, and HEAŞ continued its operations with a three-partner structure: the Presidency of Defence Industries, the Turkish Armed Forces Strengthening Foundation, and the Turkish Aeronautical Association.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s second runway has become operational.

Today, HEAŞ, as the airport authority, carries out rule-making, regulation and supervision activities, as well as PAT area management, aviation information management, fire and aircraft accident rescue services, health and first aid activities, 24/7 operation of navigation equipment, all infrastructure services, aviation information processing activities, VIP services, and security and control processes of airside gate access points.