Istanbul sets full operation date

The new Istanbul Airport (İGA), which opened for limited use in October, has set a new date of 3 March to become fully operational after its entry into full service was twice delayed (BTN 14 January).

The complex was opened in October by Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and is claimed to become the world’s biggest. It replaces Istanbul Atatürk Airport, which will now be closed for scheduled passenger flights.

İGA Airport Operations CEO Kadri Samsunlu said: “We are all ready for the occasion. As a major hub at the intersection of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, we will bring the world closer together.”

With an initial capacity to serve 90m people the airport could be expanded to 200m once all phases are completed.

As Istanbul becomes fully operational, Turkish Airlines is adding more routes to the network. Airline CEO Bilal Ekşi said new international destinations include Moscow, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Tbilisi (Georgia), North Cyprus, Kuwait and Baku (Azerbaijan).

New domestic routes include Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Trabzon, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Kayseri and Hatay.

(See also Turkish Airlines' new routes in this issue)

www.igairport.com/en

www.turkishairlines.com

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