Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Antalya Airport’s passenger capacity has been increased from 35 million to 82 million thanks to a major investment. With its new capacity, Antalya Airport will become Turkey’s second largest airport in terms of passenger capacity, following Istanbul Airport.
Speaking to members of the press in front of the new terminal buildings ahead of the official opening ceremony, which will be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister Uraloğlu emphasised that air travel not only shortens distances, but also strengthens cultural ties, builds bridges between societies, and supports economic development as a strategic element.
Turkey: A Key Hub in Global Aviation
Drawing attention to Turkey’s location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, Uraloğlu noted that within a four-hour flight radius, it is possible to reach 67 countries with a combined population of 1.5 billion people. He underlined that this unique position has made Turkey a global transit hub in aviation.
A Rapidly Growing Aviation Sector
Highlighting the significant progress made in civil aviation since 2002, Uraloğlu stated that by opening the sector to private enterprises and encouraging competition, Turkey has become one of the countries with the widest flight network in the world. He also pointed out the standout architectural designs of Turkish airports, citing the tea glass-shaped control tower at Rize-Artvin Airport and the regional motifs at Çukurova Airport as examples of this vision.
Record Increase in Passenger Numbers
Uraloğlu reported that the total number of passengers across Turkey reached 45,175,946 in the first three months of 2024. In the same period, Antalya Airport served approximately 6.2 million domestic and nearly 33 million international passengers, totalling 39,230,000.
With the new investment, the International Terminal will expand from 90,143 square metres to 224,000 square metres, while the Domestic Terminal will grow from 36,859 square metres to 75,000 square metres.
Major Investment Realised Without Burdening the State
Minister Uraloğlu emphasised that the €927 million mega-project was carried out without any expenditure from the public budget. He also noted that no passenger guarantee was provided in the project. Over the 25-year operating period, rental income totalling €8.555 billion (including VAT) will be generated from the contractor companies.
Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Uraloğlu added that a 29-kilometre pipeline has been constructed for Antalya Airport, which will make a significant contribution to tourism, trade and employment. This pipeline enables aircraft fuel to be transported directly from the maritime terminal, thereby preventing 60,000 tanker lorry entries into the city traffic each year.
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