It used to be the primary international airport of Istanbul and the hub of Turkish Airlines until it was closed to commercial passenger flights on 6 April 2019.

In 1933, today's Turkish Airlines, the Türkiye Devlet Hava Yolları started its flights with two Curtiss Kingbird aircraft.

[13] The other runway is set to remain in use for select cargo and private jet flights, aviation fairs (such as Teknofest) and for use by the Turkish Air Force (which still maintains a small training base and museum here).

[14] The leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called the proposed construction of the park ''treason'' and threatened to hold those responsible to account.

It featured its own check-in and airside facilities on the upper floor, with twelve departure gates equipped with jet bridges[18] and five baggage claim belts on the ground level.

It featured a large main hall containing 8 check-in aisles and a wide range of airside facilities such as shops and restaurants, 34 gates equipped with jet bridges, and 7 bus-boarding stands.

[19] The airport featured a dedicated cargo terminal including facilities for the handling of radioactive and refrigerated freight.

[24][citation needed] Currently, the airport serves only private and business jets as well as operations on behalf of the Government of Turkey.