HEAŞ

What HEAŞ does

HEAŞ (Havaalanı İşletme ve Havacılık Endüstrileri A.Ş.) is the Airport Authority of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, established on January 27, 2000, as a state-owned joint-stock company. The company is 96.44% owned by the Presidency of Defence Industries (Cumhurbaşkanlığı Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı), with the remainder held by the Turkish Armed Forces Strengthening Foundation and the Turkish Aeronautical Association. Under its statutory mandate, all airport revenues are directed toward developing Turkey's defense industry technological infrastructure. HEAŞ serves airlines, ground handling operators, commercial tenants, and 41+ million annual passengers through airside operations, runway and apron management, aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF), aeronautical information management, navigation systems, and safety management. Its technology portfolio includes SAGİS (an AI-powered noise monitoring system co-developed with TÜBİTAK MAM), KOVAN ERP (an indigenous enterprise resource planning platform from HAVELSAN), and advanced seismic isolator systems for terminal infrastructure. The company also operates HEAŞ Akademi, the first and only MEB-licensed airport training institution in Turkey.

HEAŞ generates revenue through regulated airport fees, concession management, and leasing arrangements at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which handles approximately 22% of Turkey's total flight traffic following the 2023 second runway commissioning. Following the 2008 operational restructuring, terminal, ground handling, fuel, and warehouse operations were transferred to ISG (a Limak-GMR-Malaysia Airports joint venture), positioning HEAŞ as the regulatory and oversight authority rather than the terminal operator. Its customer base is structurally captive: ISG, Çelebi, and TGS operate ground handling under HEAŞ coordination, while airlines including Turkish Airlines, AJet, and Pegasus depend on HEAŞ's apron, firefighting, and navigation services. The T1 Terminal renovation project (announced 2025) is expected to expand capacity to 47+ million passengers, supported by EUR 41M+ annual passenger throughput and #1 European ranking for flight operations by EUROCONTROL (week 24, 2026).

Name

HEAŞ

Legal name

Havaalanı İşletme ve Havacılık Endüstrileri A.Ş.

Website

https://sgairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HEAŞ is the state-owned Airport Authority of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul, serving airlines, ground handlers, and 41+ million annual passengers through airside operations, safety oversight, and aviation technology deployments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Management

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

Keywords

• Airport operations management
• Aviation safety services
• Aircraft rescue firefighting
• Airport ground handling
• Aviation training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pendik

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Airport Operations and Concessions: HEAŞ as Airport Authority manages airport operations including PAT area management, aviation information management, fire and rescue services, health services, navigation equipment operation, infrastructure services, VIP services, and security/access control. Revenue is derived from airport fees, concessions, leasing, and commercial activities at Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
2. Training Services (HEAŞ Academy): HEAŞ Academy provides training programs to both own personnel and industry stakeholders, generating revenue through course fees. It is the first and only airport operator with MEB (Ministry of National Education) licensed training authorization.
3. Leasing and Concessions: Leasing and concession processes related to commercial activities at Sabiha Gökçen Airport are planned and managed. Implementation and coordination of agreements with businesses operating within the airport premises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HEAŞ operates as the Airport Authority of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, providing airside operations (runway, taxiway and apron management), Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), aeronautical information management, navigation aids and electronics, first-aid and medical services, VIP services, security/access control, and leasing and concession management for commercial tenants. It also delivers MEB-licensed aviation training through HEAŞ Akademi to its own personnel and external aviation sector stakeholders.

Product overview

HEAŞ (Havaalanı İşletme ve Havacılık Endüstrileri A.Ş.) is the Airport Authority of Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul, operating as a state-owned enterprise under the Presidency of Defence Industries. The company's portfolio consists of core airport operations services (airside management, ARFF, medical services, AIM, navigation systems) combined with technology initiatives including SAGİS (AI-powered noise monitoring with TÜBİTAK MAM) and KOVAN ERP (domestic ERP with HAVELSAN). Supporting services include HEAŞ Akademi (MEB-licensed training institution), the Airport Entry Card System, Safety Management System, and Voluntary Safety Reporting. The T1 Terminal expansion project adds satellite terminal capacity to the existing T2 main terminal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Istanbul's second international airport (IATA: SAW, ICAO: LTFJ) on the Anatolian side, serving domestic and international flights with over 41 million annual passengers and ~22% of Turkey's total flight traffic. Operated as a state-owned enterprise through HEAŞ as Airport Authority.
• T1 Terminal Satellite terminal building of approximately 24,000 m² connected to the main T2 terminal via a 240-meter bridge, providing 8 additional boarding gates and approximately 4 million additional passenger capacity. Built with seismic isolator technology for earthquake resilience.
• Airside Operations Ramp tower and apron services, runway and taxiway management, snow and ice control, FOD inspections, wildlife hazard management, and airside coordination and supervision for airlines and ground handlers at Sabiha Gökçen.
• ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) 24/7 firefighting and rescue services maintaining response capability for potential aircraft accidents, fires, and emergencies at the airport.
• First Aid and Medical Services Emergency medical response for passengers and staff in case of aircraft accidents, emergencies, incidents, occupational accidents, and traffic accidents within airport premises.
• Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Collection, validation, and distribution of aviation data to stakeholders, effectively managing aeronautical information supporting safe flight operations.
• Electronics and Navigation Systems Operation of navigation aid systems and electronic infrastructure supporting air traffic operations, including maintenance, monitoring, and coordination for system continuity (AGL centerline, taxiway edge, stopbar systems).
• HEAŞ Akademi (Aviation Training) MEB-licensed training institution offering theoretical and practical aviation training programmes to HEAŞ personnel and external aviation sector stakeholders, drawing on 25 years of HEAŞ operational experience. Revenue is generated through course fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 894 daily flights record set on 31 May 2026 – highest in the airport's history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HAVELSANcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 July 2025At IDEF 2025 International Defence Industry Fair, HEAŞ and HAVELSAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of KOVAN Corporate Resource Management (ERP) software at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. KOVAN is a fully indigenous Turkish software developed entirely with national capabilities. All existing KOVAN modules will be activated within HEAŞ, enabling management of all operational processes through the platform. This partnership supports HEAŞ's digitalization, reduces external dependency, enhances data security, and enables more effective process management.
• TÜBİTAK MAM (TÜBİTAK Marmara Araştırma Merkezi)coreTechnology or Integration · 5 May 2025HEAŞ and TÜBİTAK MAM signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of SAGİS – Sabiha Gökçen Airport Noise Monitoring System. This is the first noise management system developed within TÜBİTAK and the first AI-powered, self-learning noise management system in Turkey. The 24-month R&D project will enable Turkish engineers to train custom models for aircraft engine frequency identification, monitoring NADP1, NADP2, and Continuous Descent Approach procedures, and providing GIS-based environmental noise visualization. This reduces external dependency in critical aviation technology infrastructure.
• ISG (İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı Yatırım, Yapım ve İşletme A.Ş.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEAŞ as Airport Authority and ISG (a joint venture of Limak-GMR-Malaysia Airports) collaborate on terminal operations at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. HEAŞ manages regulatory and safety oversight while ISG manages terminal operations. The two entities are jointly executing the T1 terminal renovation and activation project, with T1 serving as a satellite terminal connected to T2 via a 240-meter bridge. ISG handles ground handling, fuel, terminal, and warehouse operations since May 2008.
• VatanjetminorOthersVatanjet is referenced as a subsidiary brand under HEAŞ ecosystem, listed in the website footer alongside HEAŞ Akademi. No additional details provided in available source material.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fraport AG: Frankfurt-based global airport operator running Frankfurt Airport and numerous international airport concessions. Comparable as a publicly listed, large-scale airport authority/operator with mixed regulatory and commercial mandates.
• Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris): Operator of Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Paris-Le Bourget. Comparable as a state-influenced European airport operator managing 40M+ passenger hub infrastructure and international concessions.
• Dubai Airports (operator of DXB/DWC): Operator of Dubai International (DXB), one of the world's busiest international airports. Comparable as a state-affiliated airport authority managing 40M+ passenger hub operations and rapid capacity growth.
• Flughafen Zürich AG: Swiss listed airport operator running Zürich Airport and international concessions. Comparable as a publicly known European airport operator combining regulated airside authority with commercial operations at a major international hub.
• Aena S.M.E. Spanish state-owned airport operator running 40+ airports globally including Madrid and Barcelona. Comparable as a large state-influenced airport authority with diversified aeronautical and commercial revenue streams at 40M+ passenger scale airports.
• Avinor AS: Norwegian state-owned airport operator managing 40+ airports. Comparable as a state-owned European airport authority focused on safe, regulated airport operations across a national network, including ARFF, navigation, and airside management.
• Swedavia AB: Swedish state-owned airport operator running Stockholm Arlanda and 9 other Swedish airports. Comparable as a state-owned airport authority handling airside, safety, and infrastructure operations at major European passenger hubs.

Direct peers

• IGA (İstanbul Havalimanı İşletmeciliği A.Ş.): Operator of Istanbul Airport on the European side of Istanbul. Direct competitor to HEAŞ/Sabiha Gökçen, competing for the same airline customers, passengers, and Turkish aviation traffic share.
• TAV Airports Holding: Turkish airport operator that previously ran Istanbul Atatürk and operates Antalya, Ankara, and several international airports. Closest Turkish-headquartered comparable airport operator in terms of business model, regulatory environment, and customer base.

Others

• ISG (İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı Yatırım, Yapım ve İşletme A.Ş.): JV of Limak, GMR, and Malaysia Airports that operates terminal, ground handling, fuel, and warehouse at Sabiha Gökçen. Co-located operator that is economically intertwined with HEAŞ (which retains regulatory authority) and is the closest direct operating peer.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sgairportcom
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@heasresmi
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heasresmi
• Instagraminstagram.com/heasresmi

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HEAŞ