Sabiha Gokcen airport capacity grows by 25pc
ISTANBUL: Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA) recently opened its new domestic boarding hall, increasing the airport capacity to 41 million passengers per annum (mppa) from 33 mppa.
ISGIA, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has been wholly-owned by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) since 2015.
ISGIA is the second largest airport in Turkey. This new 26,000 sq m boarding hall, built at the cost of €26 million (RM122.8 million), features four new aerobridges, 1,000 sq m of shopping area and comfortable waiting lounges and prayer rooms.
The new boarding hall was officiated by Turkey Defence Industry president Professor Ismail Demir and Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin.
Present were ISGIA board chairman Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani and Pendik Mayor Kenan Sahin.
In a recent statement issued from Turkey, ISGIA chief executive officer Ersel Goral said ISGIA was recognised as Europe’s fastest-growing airport in terms of passenger numbers for seven consecutive years from 2009 to 2016.
“We expect to register 33 million passengers this year, which will represent nine-fold growth over the last 10 years.
“For the first half of this year, we have seen 12 per cent growth to 16.2 million passengers compared with a year ago,” Göral said, adding that the terminal has been operational since July 31.
From January to June, international passenger traffic movements increased 13 per cent to 5.2 million and domestic passenger traffic movements was up 12 per cent to 11 million. Aircraft movements had also rose seven per cent to 106,631 movements in the first half.
Ersel said ISGIA was ranked 8th in the world for its on-time performance, making it the only Turkish airport in the top 10 list.
ISGIA’s second runway is being constructed by the Turkish government and is expected to start operations by the end of next year.
It will allow ISGIA to handle up to 80 flight movements per hour, doubling its present capacity. Future developments to the airport will increase the airport system’s capacity to beyond 60 mppa by 2021.
As a destination preferred by the likes of Emirates, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai and Air Arabia, and a hub for Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, the airport is expanding its scope in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
On top of this, the new subway line linking the airport to the Pendik-Kadikoy subway line should be completed at the beginning of next year. It would shorten travelling time between ISGIA and Taksim town to 45 minutes.