Work is now underway to add seven new airports in Turkey to include the world’s largest in Istanbul in preparation for Istanbul 2020.
Conceptual of Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) via the airport's Facebook
According to the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Shipping and Communications, the total number of airports inside Turkey will grow to 56, including the massive plans for a mega facility targeted for Istanbul 2020. The third Istanbul project in the North of the city will reportedly accommodate 150 million passengers a year. The projected cost of that facility is some €7 billion euro.
A planned six-runway hub, the new Istanbul is slated to be laid down across 77 million square meters of land in the Arnavutköy district there. Accordingly, with the rather vast expansion of Turkey’s aid commerce capabilities, flag carrier Turkish Airlines is expected to more than double their fleet as well.
In their bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, Turkey is planning an massive infrastructure revamp with the super airport at its center. Expenditures in preparation for these Olympics is expected to be in excess of €11 billion over the next three years. The pace at which Turkey’s transport, travel, and tourism industries are growing is further spotlighted by this Financial Times story telling of Istanbul overtaking Madrid and Amsterdam passenger wise.