By Air in Turkey's Mediterranean Coast

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By Air

The main airports serving the Turquoise Riviera are in Dalaman and Antalya. Antalya is the busiest international airport in Turkey, serving the coast from Alanya to Kas, including Side, Belek, Kemer, Olympos, and Finike. Dalaman Airport serves the coast from Kas to Datça, including Kalkan, Fethiye, Göcek, Dalyan, and Marmaris.

Operators include Turkish Airlines, now facing increasing competition from private newcomers Atlas Jet, Onur Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sun Express, and Fly Air. Pegasus Airlines' direct flight from Izmir to Antalya is just one of a number of convenient connections to the south coast that do not transit through Istanbul.

Note that some Istanbul flights leave from Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of the city, notably those of Pegasus Airlines. The best agency to find international tickets on charter flights from Antalya is Belmondo.

A host of car rental concessions operate at all airports, including all international agencies. Airport buses also link the two airports to major towns. Major hotels and travel agencies will arrange airport shuttles as well. Yellow airport taxis are somewhat expensive for individuals but are usually well regulated with a clear legal pricing system prominently displayed, and are a good option if you're sharing.

If you are traveling by charter, make certain you call to reconfirm your ticket a day or two before departure. Charter companies often change the times of flights by several hours, and do not refund tickets for missed flights.

Taking a bus from Antalya airport into Antalya costs $6 and departs when full, but that's not the case the other way round. Buses to the airport leave the Turkish Airlines building on Cumhuriyet Cad. (on the clifftop boulevard) once every hour or two. Another bus leaves from nearby Wing Turizm(242/244-2236) at even more irregular times. Yet another option if you're leaving from Antalya main bus station is to take a bus down the highway east of Antalya, get out at the airport intersection, and take one of the taxis waiting there for the last 2 km (1 mi) into the airport itself, for which the taxi charges about $3 -- it's a bit of a hassle, but something to consider. A taxi to the airport from the center, by comparison, costs $20.

From Dalaman Airport, airport buses will take airline passengers to east via Göcek to Fethiye harbor ($12) and west to Marmaris intercity bus terminal ($17). Theoretically, the buses will leave Marmaris three hours before any flight, and Fethiye 2 1/2 hours before. For more precise information, call Havas, the Dalaman operating representative.

Airports

Antalya Airport (242/330-3234 (international terminal); 242/330-3233 (domestic terminal)). Bodrum Airport (252/523-0129). Dalaman Airport (252/792-5291).

Airlines and other Contacts

Atlas Airlines (216/444-3387 call center; 242/243-3040 in Antalya; 252/. www.atlasjet.com). Belmondo Travel (242/243-4640 main office in Antalya; 242/330-3949 office in international terminal 1; 242/330-3650 office in international terminal 2. www.belmondo.net). Havas (535/725-9660). Onur Airlines (212/444-6687 call center (domestic); 212/233-3800 (international); 242/743-0564 in Antalya. www.onurair.com). Pegasus Airlines (212/444-0737 call center (domestic); 212/697-7777 (international). www.flypgs.com). Sun Express (232/444-0797 call center (domestic); 232/298-7298 (international); 242/323-4047 in Antalya; 252/692-5334 in Dalaman. www.sunexpress.com.tr). Turkish Airlines (212/663-6363 in Istanbul; 242/243-4383 in Antalya; 252/792-5395 in Dalaman; 252/412-3752 in Marmaris; 252/317-1203 in Bodrum. www.thy.com).