Turkish Forum

Tag: third Istanbul airport

  • Do we need a third airport?

    Do we need a third airport?

    FROM THE BOSPHORUS: STRAIGHT

    Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım may have justifiable reasons for his apparently final decision to begin construction of a third Istanbul airport on the European side, about 60 kilometers from the existing Atatürk Airport. When we learn these reasons, we too may be convinced.

    At the moment, this decision we reported Tuesday strikes us as poorly thought out, inadequately discussed before the public and premature. Perish the thought that this decision might have as much to do with $5 billion in construction contracts as it does with air passenger congestion. Such a thought has never crossed our minds. So let’s just discuss the more technical merits of the issue.

    One thing is certain. This is that the capacity of Istanbul’s existing two airports is nearing its limits. Just eight years ago, domestic passengers transiting through Istanbul were fewer than 9 million. Last year, they numbered more than 41 million. Add in international traffic. Tally the projected growth in both categories which is more than 10 percent annually for the foreseeable future. Yes, we have a problem.

    We certainly support the growth of a healthy aviation sector. More international visitors are good for many reasons, not just economic ones. We share in the pride of many at the dramatic growth and success of our national carrier, Turkish Airlines.

    But is this really intelligent transport infrastructure planning?

    It’s worth pondering the decision of British authorities earlier this year to cancel a planned third runway at the world’s busiest air traffic hub, Heathrow. They are doing so in favor of a new high-speed rail link between London and Scotland.

    The lack of room to expand the capacity of Atatürk Airport can certainly be blamed on bad planning. But there’s not much that can realistically be done now about the skyscrapers, the residences or the water treatment plant that have been allowed to block the logical growth path of that facility. Just look at GoogleEarth. But a gaze at the same web-based service clearly illustrates this is not the case with Sabiha Gökçen. What is lacking is some means to get to that airport other than the frequently-crowded expressway. $5 billion would do a lot of resolve that.

    While at GoogleEarth, take at look at the under-used Çorlu-Tekirdağ airport. Just 30 kilometers distant from the proposed new site in Silivri, it too could be made easily serviceable with an intelligent rail link.

    If feasible, either of these alternatives would make far more sense that the sprawl-inducing, farmland-consuming, speculation-generating choice of Silivri. Perhaps they are not feasible. But Minister Yıldırım has not methodically and thoughtfully asked his ministry to ask these questions.

    We just did. We think the traveling public, the citizens of the mega-city of Istanbul and all the taxpayers of Turkey deserve a well-reasoned answer.

  • İstanbul’s air traffic will be eased by new airport

    İstanbul’s air traffic will be eased by new airport

    The Turkish Transportation Minister has announced a third airport in İstanbul will be constructed on the European side and that it will have a yearly passenger capacity of 60 million.

    Passengers waiting at the İstanbul Atatürk’s Airport international flight terminal. Currently, the two airports in İstanbul are not enough to reduce the density in the air traffic.
    Passengers waiting at the İstanbul Atatürk’s Airport international flight terminal. Currently, the two airports in İstanbul are not enough to reduce the density in the air traffic.

    Speaking to the Anatolia news agency on Monday, Minister Binali Yıldırım said the civil aviation sector in Turkey has witnessed crucial developments in recent years that have resulted in increased density of air traffic across Turkey and especially in İstanbul. He noted that there are currently two operating airports in İstanbul — the İstanbul Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports — and they are working on a third airport to be constructed in İstanbul.

    Yıldırım underlined that the next airport will be constructed on the European side, although they have not decided on the exact area yet. “The new airport in İstanbul will have a capacity of at least 60 million passengers-per-year. There will be at least two independent landing fields, and it is expected to be one of the most important airports in Europe. It will be tendered with a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and will cost approximately $5 billion, including the connecting highways to this airport,” said the Minister. He added that Sabiha Gökçen Airport had decreased the density of Atatürk Airport and with the planned third airport İstanbul’s problems with air traffic congestion will be significantly eased.

    Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım noted that the two operating airports in İstanbul are not enough to meet the air traffic demand of the major Turkish city and announced that a third airport will be contstructed in İstanbul, on the European side

    Separately, Yıldırım also touched upon unfinished subway projects in İstanbul and Ankara. He said the responsibility for the projects has recently been transferred from local authorities to the Transportation Ministry, but they are waiting approval from the cabinet. Yıldırım said the Transportation Ministry and the Transportation Ministry’s General Directorate of Railroads, Ports and Airports Construction (DLH) will continue with the unfinished subway projects in the two major cities in Turkey. “It is not definite but we, as the ministry, think that the same construction companies will continue subway construction in İstanbul, while in Ankara we will work with the companies that we would like to continue and otherwise tender the subway project again. We would like to complete these projects as soon as possible and give priority to subway projects. It is expected that subway construction will be completed in two to two-and-a-half year’s time” said the minister.

    Answering a question regarding the Sürat Railway Project, Yıldırım noted the project started in the year 1974 and that only 60 kilometers of rail have been constructed since then. He said the Sürat Railway Project’s aim was to connect Ankara with İstanbul passing through the Ayaş Tunnel and that the total length of the railway was estimated as 260 kilometers. “We are not considering completing this project as well but are thinking of rehabilitating the Ankara-Ayaş part of the project in such a way that trains could travel at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. This rehabilitation will cost approximately TL 150 million, and in this way, we could at least make use of the completed part of the project and spend less money,” said Yıldırım.

  • Minister confirms plans for third Istanbul airport

    Minister confirms plans for third Istanbul airport

    Turkish Minister of Transport and Communication Binali Yıldırım has confirmed that a third airport is scheduled to be built on the European side of Istanbul, Anatolia news agency reported Monday.

    “The new airport will serve an annual capacity of 60 million passengers and have two separate tarmacs,” Yıldırım told Anatolia, adding that it would be a build-operate-transfer project, a business model that gives building contractors the right to manage new facilities for a certain amount of time before transferring operations to the government.

    While Anatolia reported Monday that the exact location of the $5 billion project is yet to be decided, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş told daily Hürriyet earlier this month the airport would be built in Silivri, on the northern outskirts of the city.

    Following the mayor’s statements, some parts of Silivri have started increasing in value, daily Vatan reported Monday. The project is expected to be built on an area of roughly 20,000 square meters, the daily reported.

    “This will be among the most prominent airports in Europe and will ease Istanbul’s air traffic congestion,” Yıldırım said.

    The minister said civil aviation in Istanbul is developing quickly, with Atatürk Airport on the European side of the city shouldering a major proportion of the traffic, while Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Anatolian side is also receiving an increasing amount of traffic.

    Ministry handles subways

    The Transport and Communication Ministry is also set take control of the expansion of both Ankara’s and Istanbul’s subway systems from local municipalities, Yıldırım said, adding that Cabinet planned to formally announce the decision “soon.”

    The Railway, Ports and Airports Authority, or DLH, a sub-directorate in the ministry responsible for the construction of railways, ports and airports, will complete the expansion of the two cities’ subway infrastructure in conjunction with private companies.

    “In Istanbul, we will carry on with the current contractor, while in Ankara we will continue to cooperate with those eager to make new bids for lines the current contractors are reluctant to commit to,” he said.

    “We want to finalize these lines as soon as possible, giving priority to half-finished projects and lines vital for public transportation. It will take two or two and a half years to complete all ongoing subway projects,” he said.