Istanbul Atatürk Airport is currently the 6th busiest airport in Europe. Here is the short history of the airport becoming the 5th busiest airport in Europe from a small military air field at Yeşilköy, Istanbul:
- 1912 - A small military airport was built at Yeşilköy on the field adjacent to Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
- 1938 - First civilian use of Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport (for flights between Istanbul and Ankara).
- 1949 - Rebuilding of Yeşilköy Airport according to international standarts (addition of 5/23 runway) : 1949 - 1953.
- 1953 - First international use of Yeşilköy Airport.
- 1972 - Building of 17L/35R runway.
- 1983 - Current domestic terminal is completed ( Project was planned for 1975 - 1983 and built then as the new international terminal). Name of the airport changed as "Atatürk International Airport" in 1985.
- 2000 - Building of the new international terminal and parking lot (Project for 1998 - 2000).
- 2003 - Building of 17R/35L runway.
- 2010 - Rebuilding and extension of 5/23 runway and taxiways.
- 2011 - Addition of new high-speed runway exits and taxiways for 17L/35R runway to increase airport capacity.
