Ataturk Airport is the first airport in Turkey. It is the former second airport of Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey. Sabiha Gokcen is the other airport and Istanbul Airport was built in 2019 instead of Ataturk Airport. It is operated by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) for civilian purposes. It is located 24 kilometers away from the city center on the European side of Istanbul.