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The metro line connecting central Istanbul to Istanbul Airport is suspended until June 19 as authorities prepare to reopen the route with an expanded network, Türkiye's Transport and Infrastructure Ministry announced.
The temporary closure began on June 14 and affects all stations on the M11 airport metro line, which links Gayrettepe in central Istanbul to Halkali in the city's western districts.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said services will resume on June 19, when a new section extending the route toward Halkali on Istanbul's European side enters operation.
Airport operator IGA and Turkish Airlines advised passengers to leave for the airport at least one hour earlier than planned during the temporary suspension.
To help accommodate travelers, Havaist, Istanbul's dedicated airport shuttle bus operator, will increase service frequencies from key locations across the city, including Taksim, Kadikoy, Aksaray and Besiktas.
Municipal transport operator IETT will continue operating its airport routes, including H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, H-8 and H-9, while additional services will be deployed if passenger demand increases.
The reopening will add five new stations and extend the route to 69 kilometers, making it Türkiye's longest metro line and one of the world's longest airport metro corridors.
Developed in phases since 2023, the M11 line runs from Gayrettepe through Istanbul Airport to Halkali, linking the city's main international gateway with central and western districts.
The ministry expects the expanded network to strengthen links between Istanbul Airport and the city's wider rail system.
Once fully operational, the line will connect with several existing and planned metro routes, including the M3 line at Kayasehir and the Marmaray commuter rail network at Halkali, improving access across Istanbul's European side.
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