Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Flight Compensation
Istanbul's secondary hub on the Asian side. SHY-Passenger applies to all SAW departures.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is Istanbul's secondary airport on the Asian side, serving as a hub for Pegasus Airlines and AnadoluJet. With 35+ million passengers annually, SAW offers a more compact experience than IST and focuses on low-cost and leisure routes. SHY-Passenger provides full protection for all SAW departures.
Airport guidance pages are informational and do not provide a final legal outcome. Compensation amounts and claim timelines depend on the actual disruption, documentation, and the applicable passenger-rights regime.
€600
Max payout (SHY-Passenger)
~35M
Annual passengers
~500
Daily flights
Max Compensation
€600
up to per passenger · departing SAW
Average processing: 30–60 days days
Free eligibility check · 2 years from delay date limit · Fee disclosed before signature
01We Know SAW
Sabiha Gökçen handled 35 million passengers in 2024. The airport is a major base for Pegasus Airlines (Turkey's largest LCC) and AnadoluJet. SAW experiences similar weather patterns to IST but with less congestion. SHY-Passenger success rate is 73%.
Our Success Rate
73%
on SAW-origin claims
Average Payout
€375
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
November–February
Winter fog affecting Asian side of Istanbul
June–August
Summer thunderstorms, peak leisure travel
Weekend mornings
High volume of leisure departures to coastal resorts
Key Legal Nuance at SAW
What Makes SAW Claims Different
SAW operates with lower congestion than IST, resulting in fewer delays. Pegasus and AnadoluJet both operate from SAW with high frequency to domestic and European destinations. Same SHY-Passenger protections apply.
02Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport — and whether each cause is extraordinary under EC261.
Winter Fog
May be extraordinaryAsian side of Istanbul experiences similar winter fog to IST November–February.
Severe fog may qualify; routine winter conditions are foreseeable.
Summer Thunderstorms
May be extraordinaryAfternoon thunderstorms June–August affect SAW operations.
Predictable seasonal weather patterns may not qualify.
Technical Issues
Not extraordinaryPegasus and AnadoluJet fleets experience routine maintenance issues.
Technical problems are NEVER extraordinary under SHY-Passenger.
Ground Handling
Not extraordinaryRapid turnaround requirements for LCC operations can cause cascading delays.
Operational planning is within carrier control.
03Highest-Disruption Routes
Routes departing SAW with the highest documented delay rates. Based on Eurocontrol CODA data and FlightStats.
| Route | Airline(s) | Delay Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| SAW → ADB (İzmir) | Pegasus, AnadoluJet | 9% delay rate — domestic |
| SAW → AYT (Antalya) | Pegasus, SunExpress | 11% delay rate — leisure |
| SAW → ESB (Ankara) | Pegasus, AnadoluJet | 8% delay rate — capital route |
| SAW → LHR (London) | Pegasus | 7% delay rate — European |
| SAW → CDG (Paris) | Pegasus | 8% delay rate — European |
04How We Handle SAW Claims
You submit your flight details
Takes 2 minutes. We need your flight number, travel date, and what happened. No paperwork required upfront.
We verify the SAW-specific cause
File via airline customer relations with SHY-Passenger references. Pegasus and AnadoluJet typically respond within 30 days.
Submission, escalation, and payment
Escalate to SHGM or Consumer Arbitration Committee if airline rejects valid claim.
05EC261 at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Regulation covering departures from SAW
SHY-Passenger applies to all SAW departures. Same protections as IST.
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew from SAW.
Is SAW better than IST for on-time performance?
Generally yes. SAW has less congestion than IST, resulting in fewer delays. However, both airports are subject to the same Istanbul weather patterns. SAW's focus on LCCs means faster turnaround times but also tighter schedules.
Do Pegasus flights from SAW have the same rights as Turkish Airlines from IST?
Yes. SHY-Passenger applies equally to all airlines operating from Turkish airports. LCC status does not exempt Pegasus from compensation obligations for 3+ hour delays within carrier control.