The long-awaited opening of İstanbul’s new airport finally took place last month, marked by a complex 45-hour migration from Atatürk Airport (ISL) to the new facility (IGA).
Originally scheduled to open in October 2018, the new airport’s launch was postponed several times and ultimately occurred on April 7. As part of the transition, there was a 12-hour window during which no flights operated from either airport, allowing teams to complete critical transfer tasks safely and efficiently.
The relocation required moving more than 10,000 pieces of equipment, a logistical feat that involved careful planning and coordination across many teams and suppliers.
“We are conducting the biggest transportation operation in the aviation history. So much so that during the move from Atatürk Airport which was the host of Turkish Airlines during its great rise in the global aviation to Istanbul Airport, our new home, the combined size of the equipment we are starting to transfer would cover the 33 football pitches,” said M Ilker Ayci, chairman of the board and executive committee, Turkish Airlines. “We will continue to welcome our guests from all over the world with the unique service concept of Turkish Airlines with much wider opportunities provided by our new home after this great operation, which closely followed not only in our country and region, but also on a global scale.”