Making Turkey reach the peak of aviation, Istanbul Airport continues its 3rd runway preparations in full force. An official application declaring the airport’s 3rd independent runway to be ready for flight operations by 18 June 2020 has been filed with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Istanbul Airport, which has already proven itself as a global hub in its first year of operation on account of its unique architecture, strong infrastructure, superior technologies, and the outstanding travel experience offered to its passengers, is nearing the end of its 3rd runway preparations. When completed, the airport’s 3rd independent runway scheduled to enter operation by June 18 will make Istanbul Airport Turkey’s first and Europe’s second airport capable to operate such number of runways in parallel, right after Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Once put into operation, the 3rd runway located east of Istanbul Airport Terminal will reduce the current domestic taxi times by approximately 50 percent. Simulations have shown that average landing time will decrease from 15 to 11 minutes, while average takeoff time will decrease from 22 to 15 minutes. The second “End-Around Taxiway” aiming at mitigating congestions at airports where air traffic is very heavy will also be put into service together with the new runway. Thus, any restrictions to aircraft ground handling will be prevented at Istanbul Airport capable to carry out simultaneous landing and takeoff operations.
Once the third runway which will serve as CAT III (category three) just like the other 2 independent runways is put into operation, the number of fully operational runways at Istanbul Airport will rise to 5, comprising three independent and two standby runways. The new runway will increase the airport’s air traffic capacity from currently 80 landings – takeoffs to minimum 120, and also improve the slot flexibility of airline companies. The new runway will allow the airport to reach a capacity capable to host an average of over 2.800 landing-takeoff operations daily.
Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of İGA Airport Operation Inc., Kadri Samsunlu, made following statement:This has been a difficult year for the aviation industry, but we see this compulsory break as an opportunity to maximise the passengers’ travel experience at Istanbul Airport. We expect the stagnation we have been experiencing for the last couple of months to resolve very soon. Our new runway will be immensely helpful in that sense. We have filed an application with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, declaring that our 3rd independent runway to be ready for flight operations by 18 June 2020. We are profoundly proud to get this phase completed in timely manner, just as has been the case for all stages of construction. There will be serious reductions in domestic taxi times, which we have been criticised during our operations. Thus, all our passengers will get a perfect customer experience at Istanbul Airport. We will also culminate our claim of superior service quality through excellent comfort and savings on time. In this sense, I would like to emphasise once again that Istanbul Airport is the largest infrastructure investment ever put into practice in the history of the Republic and the most significant economic asset of our nation. Hence, Istanbul Airport will for sure be a locomotive force in the future development of our country.
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