Istanbul New Airport completes construction of first runway

Turkey's Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communications Ahmet Arslan confirmed (Feb-2017) completion of Istanbul New Airport's first runway. Mr Arslan said employment of construction workers will increase from 23,000 to 30,000 by spring 2017, while stating the airport is on track to open its first phase in 1H2018. The first phase of the project will have capacity of 90 million passengers p/a with three independent runways, while the final phase will have capacity for 200 million passengers. As previously reported by CAPA, the airport is planned to have six runways and four terminals at the end of its four phase construction scheme. [more - original PR - Turkish]