The last machine was gone, and flight number TK-54 to Singapore, with 319 passengers on Board. All of them had made cell-phone photos, some of them had cried when they heard the announcement: “Dear passengers, Ataturk airport, served 100 years of Turkish aviation will be closed for the night for scheduled flights.” Then, the display panels were dark, the light at the Gates went out, and all, who stood still, the ground staff and the security people were dancing.

Outside on the airport road, eight cars crashed before to each other because one wanted to photograph the last machine, and this slowly drove. There was only material damage. It is the only accident that was reported in connection with the gigantic Istanbul airport relocation until Sunday.

is The largest transport operation in the history of aviation

The semi-state airline, Turkish Airlines (THY) announced that it had completed the “Big Bang” referred to the Transfer of twelve hours faster than planned. Were provided 45 hours for 47’300 tons of cargo, the volume of about 5000 truckloads. They were brought from the old airport on the Marmara sea to the new giant airport on the Black sea. All the above have been aggregated, 400’000 miles, so ten times around the world, “in the largest transport operation in the history of aviation,” THY expected.

As an airport moves, made in 1992, Munich-Riem was dissolved. Since then, Munich is far, far as a model for such an Operation. In the Erdinger Moos had been simulated previously for months with soldiers and old suitcases. In Istanbul, from 29. October – the official opening of the Republic Bank holiday – a day with some domestic and a few foreign countries, the new mega airport flights, tested in operation. And the complete move was postponed without further explanation three Times.

The Ataturk airport used to be called “Yesilköy”, literally “Green village”, after the homonymous district on the European side of Istanbul. There is an airport was created in 1912, first for military purposes. After the military coup in 1980, he was named after the founder of the Republic. On several occasions, the Airport was expanded, the last of the space on the floor was so scarce that the air space was always crowded.

the reason for this is the sudden growth of THY, which started in 1933 with five airplanes, and today, with 333 passenger and freight operated machines 257 international destinations in 124 countries, and 49 routes in Turkey. “Atatürk” was once far away from the city, which grew up to the airfield, and the approach you could see the rooftops under the wings.

should First be built in the South, the government decided on a former colliery site to the North. Against this place, there were many objections from conservationists, the defendant, the felling of 657’000 trees. Also some experts for flight safety, expressed concerns, due to often strong winds from the Black sea, and because the Region as a migratory bird area. Before the courts, the government prevailed.

After 25 years, the Airport falls to the state

Five large construction companies, which are considered to be close to the government, were awarded the contract. You have invested officially to 10.5 billion Euro, almost seven billion were planned. The companies also provide the airport company IGA. After 25 years, the Airport falls to the state. Until then, the IGA pays rent, but for twelve years, a state guarantee for a profitable utilization.

the Same model also applies for other Turkish large-scale projects, has proved to be however already in the third Istanbul bridge, and the car tunnel under the Marmara sea as a tax to the state. Of the Opposition, it is therefore criticized. The new airport, the operators see no risk that the state pays for it. 90 million passengers will be able to handle the first per year. After the 2028 planned full expansion, with six runways, it should be 200 million. Thus, the prestige project of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would be, according to today’s state-of-the-largest airport in the world.

From the center can make the journey one and a half hours

The Air hubs in Dubai, London or Frankfurt to Istanbul before competition. “A Monument of victory” proclaimed Erdogan the Airport at the laying of the Foundation stone in June 2014. With 7650 hectares, eight times as much area as the old one. It was built in a record pace. High Accident record. 30 deaths, with the company, but rejected reports about safety defects in the construction. The trade Union had more Deaths they lamented also the high time pressure and often delayed payment.

Video: Erdogan’s huge prestige project

in 2020 the metro to the new Airport is ready, the buses, the connections take over until then. From the city centre the journey can take up to one and a half hours, travelers need to bring more time than in the past. Also in the airport, the roads are wide, up to two kilometres from Check-in to the farthest Gate. The IGA promises that all controls be faster than in “Ataturk”, where there were often mega-queues.

The Name of the new Airport is “Istanbul”, proposals from the ACP to designate him according to Erdogan, were not answered. The IATA called shortcut, the same of the Ataturk Airport, which is now called the ISL and for a while for cargo planes and a couple of VIP remains a machine open. Then there is a Park should be created: Yesilköy is green again. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 08.04.2019, 14:18 PM