For convenience, travellers may fly directly into Izmir. Almost all big flight companies serve the Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport <http://www.adnanmenderesairport.com/izmiren/index.php>. It is also possible to fly into Istanbul, located 600 miles (ca. 1000 kms) from Izmir, which has a larger airport with more airline connections and is therefore often less expensive <http://www.ataturkairport.com/eng/index.php; website is also in German>. There are several buses that connects the Istanbul with Izmir. If you plan to drive to Izmir from Istanbul by bus, the travel time is approximately 11 hours and costs ca. 30 ytl (ca. 17 €).

The lowest priced flights to Izmir Airport are Germanwings <http://www.germanwings.com/index.en.shtml> and Cyprus Turkish Airlines <http://www.kthy.net/kthyen/html/index.htm>. Other cheap flight companies to Izmir are Sun Express <http://www.sunexpress.com.tr/english/announcement_100126_0.html>, Hapag-Llyod <http://www.hapagfly.com/westsite/content/suchen_und_buchen/eng_001158.shtml>, Onur Air <http://www.onurair.com.tr/>, Atlasjet Airlines <http://www.atlasjet.com/en/default.asp>, Sky Airlines <http://www.skyairlines.net/eng/index.htm> and Ryan Air <http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/>.

In Istanbul you will of course have more options in terms of airline companies and their prices. The Istanbul Atatürk Airport has a tube connection with the Central Bus Station in Esenler. From there it is very easy to find a bus to Izmir at anytime.

Main Charter Flight Companies to Izmir

Main charter flight companies to Izmir are Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss Air and KLM. Turkish is, however, the most comfortable one, and their prices are not too bad.

Flight Destinations of Turkish Airlines from Istanbul

(With Domestic Connections to Izmir and Ankara)

Turkish Airlines (Turkish “Türk Hava Yolları”; THY; <http://www.thy.com/en-INT/index.aspx>) is the national airline of Turkey based in Istanbul. It operates a network of scheduled services to 103 international and 28 domestic cities, serving a total of 134 airports, in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Far East, Africa, and the United States. The airline's main base is Atatürk International Airport (IST), Istanbul, with secondary hubs at Esenboga International Airport (ESB), Ankara, and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines destinations (alphabetically): Algiers (Houari Boumedienne Airport), Cairo (Cairo International Airport), Tunis (Tunis-Carthage International Airport), Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion International Airport), Amman (Queen Alia International Airport), Tirana (Rinas Mother Teresa Airport), Vienna (Vienna International Airport), Sofia (Sofia Airport), Lyon (Saint-Exupéry International Airport), Nice (Côte d'Azur International Airport), Paris (Orly Airport), Strasbourg, almost all German airports (even smaller ones), Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport) (Thessaloniki???), Milan (Malpensa International Airport), Rome (Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport), Venice (Marco Polo International Airport), Bucharest (Otopeni International Airport), Moscow (Sheremetyevo International Airport), St. Petersburg (Pulkovo Airport), Stockholm (Arlanda Airport), Basel (Basel-Mulhouse International Airport), Geneva (Cointrin International Airport), Zurich (Zurich International Airport), Kiev, London Heathrow Airport, London Stansted Airport, Chicago (O'Hare International Airport), and New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport). There should also be flights from Toronto and Johannesburg.

From the Airport to the Downtown Izmir

Shuttle Service

There is a shuttle service (Havaş) that connects the Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport with downtown Izmir that leaves the Izmir airport every other hour. Go to the shuttle’s website for more information, schedules and fares: <http://www.havas.net/en/otobus_izmir.asp>.

Their phone number is: +90.232.444 04 87.

City departure spot: Alsancak: Büyük Efes Hotel (very close to the Conference Hall by walk). There is no passenger acceptance except the take-off departure points!

Departure Times: From the Airport: Shuttle service for all airlines arriving in domestic lines of Adnan Menderes Airport.

Alsancak Efes Hotel: 03:30-04:30-05:30-06:30-07:30-08:30-09:30-10:30-11:30-12:30-13:30-14:30-15:30 16:30-17:30-18:30-19:30-20:30-21:30-22:30-23:30.

Departure time: Approximately 50 minutes.

Ticket fee: 10,00 YTL (VAT incl.).

Between 24.00 and 06.00 AM, ticket fees are increased as 25%.

To arrive to the Conference Hall you need to get off at Alsancak Efes Hotel (last station of the shuttle).

Money Exchange

There are private money exchange offices at the aiport; but also three banks and a post office. You can find the same on the same street with Alsancak Efes Hotel or in Çankaya (near Izmir Hilton). We recommend you to exchange your money at private offices.

Currently 2 New Turkish Liras (YTL=Yeni Türk Lirası) is about 1.08 € and US$ 1.4.

For money currencies: <http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi>.

Taxis or Car Rentals

Taxis are also available at the airport or anywhere you go in Izmir; an usual rate from the airport to the downtown Izmir would be ca. 35 ytl (ca. 20 €). Car rental is available at both Izmir and Istanbul airports, a bit of too expensive in Turkey though.