Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles - Istanbul To Get New Mega Hub

Well guys, please excuse my recent thread marathon, but this is big news currently and will impact TK and us directly.

As you may know, IST stands at its limits and therefore the government is embarking to build a mega hub for Istanbul which will enable TK to continue its recent phenomenonal growth.

The total capacity of the new airport is expected to be 150 million pax per annum and will have a total of 6 runways. This new hub will be located close to the Black Sea Coast and will have a direct rail link to Taksim. Also it will be connected to the planned third bridge and highway.

I'll post more details of the project when available. I have my fingers crossed for a premium terminal arrangement or a more grandiose Do&Co lounge at the new premises:D

This would be great -- heavens knows they need it, with the horrid congestion at IST, which is only going to get worse -- but I think they've been talking about it for awhile.

Is this anything other than pie-in-the-sky? I guess the Olympics bid in 2020 is equally quixotic; maybe they'll have the airport built by then if they win it.

If they get moving on this relatively quickly they could be on to something. Western Europe is in a state of paralysis when it comes to airports: LHR a flashback to the past and no matter what they say will not improve over the next 20 years, FRA paralyzed with its night flight ban, CDG.... well being CDG so a new IST could prove to be a wise decision.

Is there an actual source here?

This would be great but I can't see the Turkish government dropping out a brand new megahub airport overnight. If this is something planned as part of some 50 year vision my level of interest going down dramatically.

If they get moving on this relatively quickly they could be on to something. Western Europe is in a state of paralysis when it comes to airports: LHR a flashback to the past and no matter what they say will not improve over the next 20 years, FRA paralyzed with its night flight ban, CDG.... well being CDG so a new IST could prove to be a wise decision.

Exactly, also, they want to emulate the success of DXB and EK. After all Istanbul is geographically in a very good position and TK is expanding to become a major global player in the industry.

The minister of transportation has announced that the government plans to tender the project in October this year. The site has already been selected. I'll post more details when available.

This is a ATW article of last year regarding the subject:

http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/news/turkish-airlines-eager-new-istanbul-airport-2016-1013

It is good news, Istanbul needs third airport as soon as possible, currently it is 8th most visited city in the world. its passenger trafics and populations is growing very fast. and locatio of airport is great along with 3th bridge it will have no problem for transportation within the city.