One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
AYT6.4
DNZ7.2+0.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
AYT6.8+0.8
DNZ6.0
Food & retail
Best for
AYT
European summer holiday arrivals into Terminal 2Priority Pass holders using Comfort Lounge after passport controlIndependent travelers using Antray or Havaş instead of package transfers
Watch out for
AYT
Peak June–September charter banks at immigration and securityStale guides that still send international flights to Terminal 1Assuming Priority Pass opens Elite/Premium FTA Exclusive CIP desks
AYT · Turkish Riviera leisure megahub: 39.16M passengers in 2025 (DHMİ), all international flights in expanded Terminal 2 since 27 October 2025, Priority Pass Comfort after passport control, and a free curb shuttle plus Antray tram — summer charter banks still define the queues.
DNZ · Aegean / **Pamukkale** gateway with **Turkish Airlines IST** plus **Pegasus / AJet SAW** domestic banks — compact Çardak terminal **without Priority Pass lounge**; expect a longer road transfer into Denizli or Pamukkale than a city-edge field.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
AYT6.6+1.4
DNZ5.2
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
AYT7.4+1.4
DNZ6.0
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
AYT6.5
DNZ6.8+0.3
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
AYT6.7+4.7
DNZ2.0
Domestic connections via the Domestic Terminal CIP Lounge
DNZ
TK / Pegasus / AJet into Denizli–Pamukkale catchmentTravelers pre-booking Pamukkale / hotel transfersShort domestic IST/SAW hops with simple single-hall flow
Terminal 2 arrivals who forget the free shuttle before hunting the tram
DNZ
No Priority Pass lounge on research dayAirport sits at Çardak — pad transfer time to Denizli / PamukkaleNetwork is mostly Istanbul domestic — thin internationalNo published MCT
Expanded Terminal 2 F&B
Free airport Wi-Fi
Summer charter banks are the real capacity test
Peak-summer international: plan ~3 hours curb-to-gate; shoulder/domestic can work closer to 2–2.5 hours.
International = Terminal 2 now — do not trust old T1 habits
Intl departures live in Terminal 2; Domestic is separate; free curb shuttle stitches the campus.
Expanded F&B is real — peak banks still empty the good seats
Better restaurant count after 2025 expansion; still grab food before the gate call in July–August.
DNZ
Pamukkale gateway terminalTaxi / hotel transferNo Priority Pass lounge
No Priority Pass lounge
No DNZ lounge on the Priority Pass network on research day.
TK IST + Pegasus/AJet SAW
Domestic Istanbul banks dominate the published schedule.
