Inaugurated on October 29th, 2018, to mark the 95th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul Airport is a remarkable feat of architecture and engineering. The President Erdogan, alongside several world leaders including the Emir of Qatar, officially opened this colossal “greenfield” project. Designed by the esteemed international architectural firm Grimshaw, this airport is set to replace Ataturk International Airport and bestow historic Constantinople with the world’s largest airport.
Spanning an impressive 76 square kilometres, the Istanbul Airport (ISL) is equipped with two terminals and aims to serve up to 200 million passengers annually by 2028. This is facilitated by its extensive 6-runway development on the Black Sea coast. To put it into perspective, Istanbul Airport’s capacity is over three times that of Ataturk International Airport (IST), which welcomed 64 million passengers in 2017, and nearly seven times the capacity of Istanbul’s third airport, Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), which saw 30 million passengers in the same year. These numbers truly underscore its ambition to become one of the top airports in the world.
Serving 200 million passengers each year would propel Istanbul Airport far ahead of the current top five busiest airports globally, namely Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with 104 million passengers in 2017, Beijing Capital International Airport with 96 million, Dubai International Airport with 88 million, Tokyo Haneda Airport with 85 million, and Los Angeles International Airport with 84.5 million.
In terms of size, Istanbul Airport will hold the title of the third-largest airport in the world, only behind King Fahd International Airport and Denver International Airport. King Fahd spans an unrivalled 776 square kilometres, while Denver covers over 135 square kilometres. Istanbul Airport’s size surpasses other giants such as Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (69 square kilometres) and Orlando International Airport (54 square kilometres).
Scheduled to commence operations on January 1st, 2019, Istanbul Airport will initially handle 35 take-offs and landings per hour. Located about an hour away from the heart of Istanbul, this XXL airport promises a modern and highly efficient travel experience. Its declared ambition is to offer unparalleled passenger capacity, foster rapid economic growth, and reflect Istanbul’s vibrant essence in a light, spacious, and easily navigable environment. Turkish Airlines, the country’s flagship carrier, stands to benefit greatly, with plans to introduce the Istanbul-Sydney route by June 2019.
From January 1st, 2019, Ataturk International Airport (IST) will be repurposed primarily for private jets, cargo planes, and crew training flights. Ataturk, situated roughly 45 minutes from the city centre, will be recommended by Unique Jets for anyone looking to reach or depart from Istanbul by private jet Benllech. Of course, unless your private flight connects with a commercial flight at Istanbul Airport (ISL).
Rumours abound that parts of Ataturk International Airport could be transformed into city gardens, adding a touch of green to Istanbul’s landscape. Turkey anticipates that Istanbul Airport will significantly boost the Turkish economy and eventually emerge as the world’s biggest hub airport, creating new opportunities for travellers and businesses alike.