Kars Airport is an important transportation hub serving the city of Kars, located in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region. With both domestic and international flights, it is a major gateway for tourists and business travelers coming to Kars. Combining the city's historical, cultural, and natural riches, this airport plays a crucial role in providing economic and touristic contributions to Kars.

Location and Importance of Kars Airport

Kars is a city known for its historical and cultural heritage, natural beauty, and unique cuisine, and is one of the key tourist regions in Eastern Anatolia. Kars Airport is located about 7 kilometers from the city center, offering easy access. Its proximity to the city center and surrounding tourist areas provides a significant advantage for both local and foreign tourists. The airport also offers an important transportation alternative for local and international businesspeople visiting the city.

Kars Airport opened for domestic flights in 1988. Over the years, with increasing passenger demand and regional tourism potential, the airport terminal has been modernized, and capacity-enhancing investments have been made. In 2006, it was opened to international flights, contributing to the development of trade and tourism in the region. Today, Kars Airport plays a significant role in revitalizing the tourism sector in the city.

Transportation and Accessibility

Access to Kars Airport is quite easy. Located just 7 kilometers from the city center, the airport is easily reachable by taxi and bus. Additionally, car rental services in the region allow easy travel to the surrounding tourist destinations. Tourists visiting Kars can easily reach important tourist sites such as Ani Ruins, Kars Castle, and Çıldır Lake from the airport.

Contribution of Kars Airport to Tourism

Kars stands out with its rich history and cultural heritage, especially with significant tourist attractions like Ani Ruins, Ermenek Church, Kars Castle, and the Sarıkamış Ski Center. Kars Airport greatly contributes to the development of the tourism sector in the region by facilitating access for visitors to these unique tourist areas. In the winter months, the airport serves as an important gateway for tourists heading to the ski resort in Sarıkamış. Additionally, foreign tourists, particularly those from countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia, make up a significant portion of the visitors to Kars.

Airport Services and Comfort

Kars Airport is notable for its modern structure and passenger-friendly services. The terminal includes shops, restaurants, and cafes for shopping and dining. To make waiting times more comfortable for passengers, free Wi-Fi, currency exchange offices, and ATMs are also available. The airport also has special arrangements for disabled passengers, including accessible toilets, elevators, and comfortable waiting areas.

Kars Airport aims to make investments in line with its future growth targets and plans to open more international flight routes. These investments will help further increase the tourism potential in the region and enhance Kars' accessibility on the international stage. The airport also plans to make improvements in areas like energy efficiency and waste management as part of its environmental sustainability projects.

Kars - Istanbul (Sabiha Gökçen & Istanbul Airport)
Istanbul, one of Turkey's largest and busiest cities, is one of the most frequently flown destinations from Kars. Flights are often made for both tourism and business purposes.

Kars - Ankara
Flights to the capital city of Ankara form an important route, especially for business travelers. Additionally, this route is frequently preferred by people from Kars and the surrounding region.

Kars - Izmir
Izmir, one of the important cultural centers of the Aegean Region, is a significant destination for flights from Kars, both in terms of tourism and commerce.

Kars - Batumi (Georgia)
Due to its proximity to Georgia, flights to Batumi are quite popular from Kars. The cultural ties between Georgia and Kars make these flights attractive.

Kars Airport offers a comfortable travel experience for passengers with its convenient services. The modern terminal building, spacious waiting areas, and various shopping options provide a comfortable environment for passengers to spend time. Additionally, security measures are thorough, and thanks to advanced technologies, passengers can complete their procedures quickly and securely.

Kars Airport also places great importance on environmental sustainability. Energy-efficient systems, waste management projects, and efforts to protect natural areas ensure that the airport operates in an environmentally friendly manner.