Turkey plans to build a 6-runway mega airport near Istanbul to be one of the world’s largest

Turkey is planning to build one of the world’s biggest airports, and one larger than anything in Europe, costing some $5bn.  It wants to make Istanbul a global hub and boost its chances of getting the Olympics in 2020. Turkey is well situated geographically for traffic between the USA and Europe, and the Far East. It is therefore in competition with other Middle East and Gulf countries, which are also building mega-sized airports, such as Dubai and Doha (capital of Qatar). A tender will be held in may for the Turkish airport.  This would be the third airport for Istanbul, which already has Ataturk airport, and Sabiha airport – which handle around 45 million and 15 million passengers respectively per year. The new airport will be near the Black Sea, and is anticipated to be able to cope with 150 million passengers per year. By contrast, Heathrow deals with some 69 million, and Atlanta – the world’s busiest airport – handles some 90 million per year. The plans are for the new 6 runway airport to be open by 2017.

 


Turkey plans world’s largest airport

By Phil Davies
24 January 2013 (BBC)
Turkey plans world's largest airport

The new airport is to be developed on 77 million metres2 of land along the Black Sea coast of Istanbul and have a capacity of 150 million passengers a year.The first phase of a four-stage project will have an annual capacity of 90 million and be operational by 2017, according to the country’s transportation minister Binali Yıldırım.This is double the capability of Istanbul’s current Ataturk airport, while the city’s Sabiha airport handles 15 million passengers.

Yıldırım claimed the six-runway airport’s planned final capacity of 150 million passengers would make it the biggest in the world, surpassing Atlanta, which handles 90 million a year.

“It is obvious a new airport is needed,” he said, adding that it would help boost tourism as Turkey prepares its bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Yıldırım said: “There has been a great increase in the number of flights and passengers to Istanbul in the past 10 years. The number of travellers has surpassed Istanbul’s population by four times.

“The ability to improve and expand Ataturk airport is severely limited. Therefore, in order to realise Istanbul’s future air-traffic potential and to provide a solution, it is evident that a new airport is needed.”

The airport will have six runways and “at full capacity the new airport will be the largest in the world in terms of passengers”.

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2013/01/24/42912/turkey+plans+worlds+largest+airport.html

 

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Financial Times article at  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e726f572-6577-11e2-a3db-00144feab49a.html#axzz2IvQ0n1Jr

 

January 23, 2013 (Financial Times)

Turkey seeks to build six-runway airport

By Daniel Dombey in Ankara

Turkey has set out plans to build one of the world’s biggest airports, at a cost of more than $5bn, as it steps up its efforts to make Istanbul a global hub.

The project reflects growing competition with Gulf countries, which share many of Istanbul’s advantages as convenient locations for European, African and Asian routes.

Turkey will hold a tender in May to build and operate the city’s third airport near the Black Sea coast, transport minister Binali Yildirim said on Wednesday.

see full  FT article at

 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e726f572-6577-11e2-a3db-00144feab49a.html#axzz2IvQ0n1Jr