Key points
- We do not hand over rental equipment at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW); it is delivered to your hotel or residence.
- Request assistance through the airport from your airline when you book; many airlines ask for at least 48 hours’ notice.
- Terminal wheelchairs stay at the airport, so book your rental before you fly and tell us your arrival time.
In this guide 6 sections
Can I rent a wheelchair at Istanbul Airport?
No. We do not deliver, hand over or collect rental equipment at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), including arrivals halls, car parks and transit areas. Your rental is delivered to your hotel, apartment or private home in Istanbul and collected from an Istanbul address at the end of your stay.
Searches for an “Istanbul airport wheelchair rental” usually mix up two different things: help inside the terminal, which is arranged through your airline, and equipment you use around the city during your stay. Plan them separately and the arrival day becomes much simpler.
How airport wheelchair assistance works
Help through the airport is normally requested from your airline as special assistance, often called PRM (passengers with reduced mobility) assistance. Ask for it when you book your ticket or as soon as possible afterwards; many airlines ask for at least 48 hours’ notice. The airline passes the request to the airport’s assistance team, who meet you at check-in on departure or at the aircraft on arrival.
Airlines describe the level of help with standard codes, so it is worth knowing which one fits:
- WCHR: you can walk short distances and manage steps, but need a wheelchair for long distances in the terminal.
- WCHS: you cannot manage the aircraft steps but can walk to your seat in the cabin.
- WCHC: you cannot walk and need help to reach your seat.
Terminal wheelchairs stay at the airport
The wheelchairs used by assistance staff belong to the airport or its service provider. They are for moving through the terminal only and cannot be taken to your hotel or used in the city, so you still need your own equipment for the rest of the trip.
If you fly with your own wheelchair, tell the airline its type, weight and folded dimensions. For a powered wheelchair or scooter, the airline will also ask about the battery type and its watt-hour rating; rules differ between airlines, so get confirmation in writing before you travel. If your own chair is damaged in transit, report it to the airline before you leave the airport.
Getting from IST or SAW to your hotel
Istanbul Airport (IST) is in the Arnavutköy district on the European side, north-west of the city centre. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is in Pendik on the Asian side. Both are a long drive from the historic peninsula, so arrange the transfer before you land.
If the passenger can move to a car seat, a regular car or minivan with room for a folded wheelchair may be enough. If they need to stay seated in a wheelchair, you need a ramp or lift-equipped vehicle. We can help arrange accessible transfers with independent providers, quoted on request. If you are staying near either airport, hotel delivery in Arnavutköy or Pendik is quoted for your exact address.
Arrival-day handover at your hotel
Book your rental before you fly and tell us your expected arrival time at the accommodation. We agree a delivery time at your hotel or residence. Where the hotel agrees, the equipment can be left at the front desk under the name on your hotel booking, which is why we ask for it when you book.
Our standard delivery and collection service covers Fatih, Beyoğlu, Sultanahmet, Taksim, Bakırköy and Zeytinburnu; other Istanbul addresses carry an additional location-based fee, quoted for your exact address.
On your departure day
Arrange collection at your hotel or residence before you leave for the airport, and request airline assistance again for your outbound flight. If your last night is in another city, or you are only passing through Istanbul on a layover, we cannot collect the equipment; buying a wheelchair may be the better option.