The world’s most stylish airport: Instanbul Airport
Turkish Airlines welcomes a new era for Turkish Aviation with the opening of Istanbul Airport. The world’s largest international hub will be home to Turkey’s national flag carrier and establishes Istanbul as the centre of the world for aviation and travel. Thanks to its strategic location at the crossroads of East and West, the airport has great potential for Turkish Airlines and the global aviation industry with a an annual capacity of 200 million passengers upon final completion.
To coincide with the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, the eagerly-awaited Istanbul’s New Airport was named “Istanbul Airport” at the opening ceremony in October 2018, which was officially opened by President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Passengers on the first Turkish Airlines flights to the new airport, which operated under special circumstances for the opening ceremony, received souvenir tickets. The opening of the new aviation hub, combined with the dynamism and energy of Turkish Airlines, will usher in a new era for the carrier.
Following the official opening of Istanbul Airport on October 29, 2018, Turkish Airlines has been operating a limited number of domestic and international routes from the new airport, while all operations and existing flight schedules have been running as usual from Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
As the airline that flies to more countries and international destinations than any other, Turkish Airlines will be able to increase its network extension capacity and opportunities for new routes and flight times, allowing a significant growth for both passenger and cargo transportation. Passengers will benefit from a redefined travel experience throughout a superbly laid out ‘built from scratch’ terminal using the latest technologies and innovations.
The megaproject will be launched in four phases with the final phase set to be completed within a couple of years. In all, the complex will occupy an area of 76.5 million square meters (29.5 square miles), boasting six runways, two terminals and 233 aircraft parking positions, more than 500 check-in desks, and 225,000 employees. Upon completion of the final phase, the largest international flight hub will incorporate offices and Duty Free, residences, hotels, a health center, culture and art buildings, a shopping mall, designer outlets, an EXPO convention center, and meeting and training facilities on site.