Çukurova International Airport (COV) sits about 35 km from Adana, so the taxi-vs-transfer question matters more here than it did at the old in-city Şakirpaşa airport. Distance changes the maths — and there is a third option, the Havamaş shuttle, worth putting in the mix.
The taxi case
Çukurova taxis are metered, so you pay what the meter shows without negotiating — the tariff is set by Adana Büyükşehir Belediyesi's UKOME. But at ~35 km out, the fare into central Adana is a serious one: on the municipality's last published tariff (35 TL to start plus 40 TL per km (Adana Büyükşehir Belediyesi UKOME, council decision 13 March 2025)) the distance component alone passes 1,400 TL, and the tariff has been raised since. This is no longer the short, cheap ride the old airport offered. Taxis queue outside arrivals and are available around the clock, though the line thins after midnight.
Fixed-price private transfer
COV Seyhan
From€173for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Drivers are generally honest and the meter keeps it fair. Most speak only Turkish, which is fine for a hotel drop-off if you have the address on your phone. Vehicle quality is average.
The transfer case
A pre-booked transfer is quoted as a fixed price when you book, so you can compare it against the metered fare yourself rather than guessing. Over 35 km the two are often closer than travellers expect, and the transfer carries real advantages: the price cannot climb in traffic, the driver tracks your flight and waits, there is a named meeting point, and you can ask for a larger vehicle or a child seat.
Transfers pull clearly ahead when:
- You are continuing beyond Adana — Mersin, Tarsus, Osmaniye or Hatay (İskenderun / Antakya). A fixed price beats an hour-plus taxi meter.
- You arrive late — after ~22:00 the shuttle stops and taxis thin out.
- You are a group or family — a pre-booked minivan for 5-6 with luggage beats splitting taxis over a 40-minute ride.
- You need a child seat — taxis do not carry them.
- You want English-speaking service — larger transfer companies handle it.
The Havamaş shuttle option
Do not forget the shuttle. If you are on a budget, near a stop, and your flight is covered by a service, Havamaş to Adana, Tarsus or Mersin is by far the cheapest way in — a small fraction of a metered taxi over the same distance. Check the current fares and timetable on havamas.com. The trade-off is fixed stops, a schedule tied to flights, and no door-to-door service.
Comparison summary
Cost: Shuttle cheapest by a wide margin; taxi and transfer are much closer for central Adana than they were at the old airport; transfer wins for intercity (fixed price vs open meter).
Convenience: Transfer is door-to-door and flight-tracked; taxi is instant but pricey; shuttle is cheap but stop-to-stop.
Availability: Taxis anytime; transfers guaranteed at booking; shuttle only within operating hours.
Comfort: Transfers typically newer vehicles; taxis vary; shuttle is a coach.
The practical answer
Budget and light? Take the Havamaş shuttle. Going to a specific hotel, arriving late, traveling as a family or group, or continuing to Mersin, Tarsus or Hatay? Book a transfer — at this distance the fixed price and door-to-door service are worth it. A taxi is the grab-and-go option if you do not mind paying a full metered fare for the ~35 km run into Adana.