Faster and More Comfortable Boarding for Passengers at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport: New Boarding Pass Verification System Now in Service

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISG) has added another practical solution to make passengers’ time at the airport more comfortable. The “Boarding Pass Verification System”, launched today, allows passengers easier and quicker access to their flights. With the new system, passengers can scan their boarding passes, ID cards, passports or driving licences at digital verification devices to pass through the checkpoint comfortably.

As the city’s gateway to the world, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport continues to improve travel experiences by integrating fast and convenient technological solutions into airport operations. Applications developed in response to the growing passenger and flight traffic at ISG enable guests to access their flights from the terminal with ease.

As part of the “Passenger Flow Improvement Project” at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Türkiye’s second-largest airport, the Boarding Pass Verification System offers shorter waiting times at check-in and security, allowing passengers to start their journey in comfort and with ease. This initiative is part of the airport’s vision to provide a smoother, stress-free travel experience and represents a significant step towards its digitalisation and automation goals.

Boarding pass verification gates enable passengers to pass directly to the X-ray areas by scanning their printed boarding pass, mobile boarding pass, ID card or driving licence without waiting for an attendant.

Which documents are valid for domestic and international passengers?

The travel documents accepted by the Boarding Pass Verification System vary for domestic and international passengers. For domestic flights, a printed boarding pass, mobile boarding pass, Turkish ID card, and the new type of driving licence are valid travel documents. Guests arriving at the Domestic Departures Gate can easily pass through using one of the 10 digital verification devices located at the entrance.

For international passengers, the system currently accepts a printed boarding pass and mobile boarding pass. Once the systems are upgraded for further digital innovations, verification will also be possible using other travel documents (passport, facial recognition, etc.). At the International Departures Terminal entrance, 16 turnstiles are available for passenger use, in addition to 2 at the e-passport control, making a total of 18.

Domestic Boarding Pass Verification System introduction video:

International Boarding Pass Verification System introduction video:

Technological solutions streamline operations at ISG, Europe’s second-busiest airport

With the e-passport system also available at ISG, Turkish citizens can complete passport control in just 20 seconds following facial recognition and fingerprint checks.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport has a total of 34 e-passport counters — 15 in the departures hall and 19 in the arrivals hall. In the departures area, the devices are located at the entrance to the Turkish passport control area, while in arrivals, they are positioned next to the cabin crew and accessible passenger gates.

E-Passport System introduction video:

On 3 August, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (ISG) International Airport set a historic record by serving 158,678 passengers in a single day. According to ACI reports, in the first half of 2025 ISG ranked as Europe’s second-busiest airport in passenger traffic and, in the “Major Airports” category for airports with over 40 million passengers, achieved the highest growth rate at 11.5%.