Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport Unveils Billion-Dollar Runway Amidst Soaring Passenger Numbers

Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has inaugurated its second runway, solidifying its position as a key player in Turkey’s aviation sector. Located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait, the airport recorded more than 181,000 flights in 2021, with an additional 27,000 flights in 2022, totaling 208,000 flights last year.

With the addition of the new runway, the airport aims to surpass its recent passenger numbers, which reached 25 million in 2021 and 31 million in 2022. By the end of 2023, it anticipates welcoming over 37 million travelers. The airport’s expansion plans envision accommodating up to 85 million passengers annually. Turkey’s aviation industry is thriving, ranking third in Europe for total passenger numbers and sixth globally.

The Turkish government initiated a $970 million investment in the airport’s second runway development in 2012 due to the existing runway’s limited capacity of 750 flights per day. The new runway, now completed, can accommodate even the world’s largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380, with dimensions of 3,540 meters (11,614 ft) in length and 60 meters (196 ft) in width.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing airport infrastructure, recognizing the critical role played by Sabiha Gökçen Airport in business and tourism development. The airport plans to optimize efficiency by using the older runway for departures and the new runway for arrivals, aiming to double its daily operations. Substantial improvements and modernization efforts at the airport include a middle apron for up to 62 aircraft and a large cargo apron for up to 40 aircraft.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport was established in 2001 to support the rapidly growing Atatürk International Airport, which has since been replaced by the new Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side. Serving over 120 destinations, it is a hub for AnadoluJet and Pegasus Airlines, with several major carriers also operating from the airport. Sabiha Gökçen’s impressive growth is evident in its recent passenger figures, recording a 26% increase compared to 2022, making it the second busiest airport in Turkey, behind Istanbul Havalimanı Airport and ahead of Antalya Airport, a popular European leisure destination.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, msn.com