Bahrain Air Started Istanbul flights

Bahrain Air, the second national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced that it has started direct services to the commercial capital of Turkey, Istanbul.

Bahrain Air will be operating 4 flights a week this summer season to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen International Airport with flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays taking off at convenient timings for both leisure and business travelers.

The inaugural flight BN 482 departed from Bahrain International Airport on schedule at 12.00 noon on Friday 1 July and landed in Istanbul at 13.50 hours local time.
A high level Turkish delegation received flight BN 482 on arrival at the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport which included Sabiha Gokcen International Airport Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Server Aydin and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gokhan Bugday. The group welcomed the Bahrain Air delegation comprising of Mr. Ibrahim Abdulla AlHamer, Bahrain Air’s Managing Director and Mr. Richard Nuttall, Director Commercial Operations at Bahrain Air.

Mr. Ibrahim Abdulla AlHamer said: “We are delighted to launch flights from Bahrain to Istanbul, where we have received such a warm welcome. Not only will the route provide a boost to tourism in Bahrain and Turkey, but it will also support the growing commercial ties between the two countries. We anticipate this route will enhance the existing passenger and cargo load capacity between the two countries and boost bilateral trade.”

Last year saw the Turkey-Bahrain trade volume rise to 244 million U.S. dollars in 2010 from 150 million U.S. dollars in 2009. Istanbul has also become a popular tourist destination for GCC travelers with its breathtaking natural beauty, unique historical and archaeological sites, hotel and touristic infrastructure, medical and health tourism and a tradition of hospitality.

The new route will also provide convenient onward connections to some of the well-established destinations that Bahrain Air services – in particular, Dubai and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain Air operates a two-class Airbus A320 to Istanbul, configured to carry 156 passengers with 12 seats in the Business Premium class and 144 in economy class.

Turkish travellers can make reservation and purchase tickets from aiRep by calling +90.212 334 29 41-51.

Published by Ozgur Tore
SUNDAY, 03 JULY 2011 17:54
Source: www.ftnnews.com

Gökhan Buğday, CEO of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s management company ISG, answered our questions.


Sabiha Gökçen Airport triggered a boom in the sector. Bearing in mind other examples, could we ask your appraisal of the capacity for a new terminal?
On 1 May 2008, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operation Inc., in short ISG, took over the management of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport for 20 years in exchange for € 1.932 billion. Afterwards, we built the new terminal on 320,000 sq m that increased the annual passenger capacity to 25 million. It was in service as of 31 October 2009. 6,639,958 passengers flew from our terminal in 2009, which corresponds to a 52.3 % growth in comparison with 2008. Such growth gives us hope for the forthcoming seasons.

Do management or operational strategies make a difference in large-scale and complex enterprises such as airports? In your opinion, which aspect of the business constitutes the most important link in the chain so that the system works well?
Absolutely, airport management is a sector where passenger satisfaction and perfectionism reaches a maximum. The status of the aviation sector in the world and in Turkey is crucial for all of us. Thus, we analyze the air traffic across the world proficiently; we do not simply act on the advantages of our technical features and capacity. In awareness that airport management is a a responsibility in its own right, we invest heavily in human resources. Passenger satisfaction is always our greatest priority.

The new Sabiha Gökçen terminal building bids an ambitious claim both in capacity and passenger volume. What are your goals for the future days?
In 2009, we’ve achieved a record growth in the number of passengers. Without doubt, airline companies have had an enormous impact in this growth. We’ve become a family with all Turkish and foreign airline companies that fly from Sabiha Gökçen. We are grateful to all airline companies, above all to SunExpress that has been enlarging its fleet every day and increasing its flight destinations. For 2010, our aim is to expand this family with new companies, reach more flight locations and attain a passenger number of above 10 million.

What would you like to say about Sabiha Gökçen’s position in the city?
Istanbul has been shown all around the globe as a developing centre of business and a tourist attraction. The Asian side of the city is turning into a focal point by its distance of 2 hours to Eastern and Southern Marmara, which we can describe as the main axis of Turkey’s production and industry.

Do you think that Sabiha Gökçen Airport has had a bearing on the number of passengers using planes?
In the Eastern and Southern Marmara region which we call the “catchment area”, about 17.5 million people leave in an area of 100 km. To be frank, we think that we’ve managed the supply and demand balance adeptly, and have aptly fulfilled the rising capacity and demand thanks to the remarkable momentum gained by the aviation sector. Yes, Sabiha Gökçen Airport has had and will continue to have an immense role in this growth.

Sunnytimes
March 2010
Business portrait

Marmaray to be connected to both Istanbul airports

Projected rail links will connect Istanbul’s Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports to the Marmarayd project, which will link the city’s Asian and European sides via an undersea commuter train line. A revision made to the project by the General Directorate of Ports and Airports Construction (DHL) envisages the construction of additional routes to link both of Istanbul’s airports to the Marmaray line, currently under construction. While Istanbul Atatürk Airport, located on the European side of the city, will connect to the Ataköy stop with a three-kilometer-long line, a 10-kilometer line with three stops will be necessary to join Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of the city with Marmaray’s Pendik stop. When the project is completed, currently scheduled for Oct. 29, 2013, passengers will be able to go from Halkalı to Sabiha Gökçen in 100 minutes. "Marmaray will serve as the backbone of Istanbul’s transportation network. As a result of studies carried out by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Kadıköy-Kartal metro line will be integrated into Marmaray. The Üsküdar-Ümraniye metro line will be integrated with Marmaray’s Üsküdar stop. The current Şishane-Taksim-4. Levent-Atatürk Organize Sanayi Bölgesi metro line will extend to the Marmaray Yenikapı hub," DHL Regional Manager Haluk Özmen said, stressing that Marmaray will encompass the easternmost and westernmost parts of Istanbul. Stating that the project aims to bring a lasting solution to intercity transportation in İstanbul, Özmen said a 76.3-kilometer-long metro will be constructed between Halkalı on the European side and Kocaeli’s Gebze district on the Asian side, enabling a continuous, modern and fast connection between the districts. "Marmaray is very important not only to bring a lasting solution to Istanbul’s intercity transportation problems, but also to protect the city’s historic and natural wealth and to improve Turkey’s railroad systems," he said. Özmen also noted that Marmaray will provide a fast and economical railroad connection between the Asian and European continents along with the Ankara-İstanbul high-speed train and the Kars-Tbilisi railroad project.

About Marmaray

The foundation for the Marmaray line was laid by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on May 9,2004, and construction is being carried out by DHL, Japanese contractor Taisei Corporation and Turkish firm Gama-Nurol. The project encompasses 13.6 kilometers of tube, 1.4 kilometers of which is underwater. The 36-station line will provide travel between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul in just two minutes and with extreme connectivity allow seamless transfers to other forms of transportation throughout the city, including lines that connect to the airports.

Sabiha Gökçen posts record number of passengers in 2009

The number of passengers flying via İstanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport totaled 6.6 million, increasing by 52 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year, the airport operator has announced. According to a written statement released by the company on Monday, the number of international passengers using the airport, which is located in the Asian part of Istanbul, reached some 2.09 million in 2009, marking a 33.4 percent increase over the previous year. The number of domestic passengers increased by 63 percent to 4.55 million during the same period. In line with the rise in the number of passengers, the number of inward and outbound flights was also up by 35.5 percent compared with 2008, totaling 60,630. Some 38 percent of international passengers flying via Sabiha Gökçen travelled to Germany, 12 percent to the UK and 9 percent to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTQ. Gökhan Buğday, CEO of the airport operating company, evaluated the figures in the statement and said that Sabiha Gökcen’s annual passenger capacity had risen to 20 million as the new international terminal building had started operations in October. He added that their target for this year is to raise the number of passengers to over 10 million. The airport is operated by a multi-national consortium of Turkey’s Limak Holding (LİMAK), GMR Infrastructure (GMR) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

Istanbul Today’s Zaman

2009 was a Record Year for Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport

The number of passengers flying via Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SGIA) increased 52% in 2009 compare to previous year.

According to the announcement, a total of 6,639,958 passengers flew from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport compare to 4,358,710 passengers in 2008.

SGIA CEO Gökhan Bugday said, "In 2008, we took over the management of the airport and we increased the service quality here with our investments".

Mr. Bugday added, "Sabiha Gökçen’s annual passenger capacity had risen to 20 million as the new international terminal building had started operations in October. We aim to serve over 10 million passengers with best service quality".

Compare to 2008, flight traffic to domestic destinations in 2009 is increased by 63 percent to 4,547,673. Moreover flight traffic to international destinations recorded 33,4 growth and reached 2,092,285 passengers in 2009. In line with the rise in the number of passengers, the number of inward and outbound flights was also up by 35.5 percent compared with 2008, totaling 60,630.

38 percent of the passengers using Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport flew to Germany, 12% flew to UK and 9% flew to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

SGIA is operated by a multi-national consortium of Turkey’s Limak Holding (LİMAK), GMR Infrastructure (GMR) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

www.ftnnews.com

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport Hotel Opened

Istanbul’s second international airport; Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, which recently announced opening of

its new terminal, is ready to host travelers at its Airport Hotel.

A three - storey hotel with 128 rooms, adjacent to the terminal and with separate entrances at air and land sides started accepting travelers.

The hotel has 2 rooms for handicapped travelers, 116 standard rooms, and 12 suites. Travelers who would like to stay at the airport hotel need to get their boarding passes and pass the passport control.

ISG Airport Hotel features a Health Club with several fitness equipment, massage rooms, sauna, and experienced personnel. Transit passengers staying at the hotel can relax by special massages at their own room.

For business world, ISG Airport Hotel welcomes businesses for lunches and dinners, as well as for meeting reasons. The hotel has 5 meeting rooms at different sizes.

For reservation, please call +90 216 588 50 00.

Source : www.rustourismnews.com


Seismic Superstructures

The Sabiha Gokcen International Airport Can Withstand Severe Earthquakes

The new Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul is touted as the world’s biggest earthquake-proof structure.

Able to withstand a earthquake with an 8.0 magnitude, the 2 million square-foot Sabiha Gökçen International Airport was designed by sustainable design and engineering firm Arup. It was built using seismic building technology and advanced computer simulations that are able to predict the reaction of buildings to quakes.

Because Istanbul is located over three tectonic plates, a major earthquake is likely to occur in the near future, meaning this impressive structure will save lives and reduce costs of damage.

Source : www.trendhunter.com


Italian Air Carrier launches direct flights to Istanbul

Italian airline company Blu-express.com has launched direct flights to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Istanbul’s main airport on the Asian side of the city. Blu-express.com, the low-cost arm of the Blue Panorama Airlines, is scheduled to fly six times a week between Rome and Istanbul, the company’s commercial director George Michalopoulos told reporters in a press meeting.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport’s new international terminal building opened in October and Turkey’s main air carrier, the Turkish Airlines, launched direct flights to destinations in Europe last month. The new terminal has the capacity to serve 25 million passengers and is expected to serve 5.5 million passengers in 2009.

The airport is operated by a multi-national consortium of Turkey’s Limak Holding, GMR Infrastructure and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. The consortium won the management rights of the airport for 20 years on May 1, 2008 in return for EUR 1.9 billion.

Blu-express starts direct flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Italian airline company Blu-express has launched direct flights to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Istanbul’s main airport on the Asian side of the city. Blu-express, the low-cost arm of Blue Panorama Airlines, is scheduled to fly six times a week between Rome and Istanbul, the company’s commercial director, George Michalopoulos, told reporters in a press meeting Thursday. Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s new international terminal building opened in October and Turkey’s main air carrier, Turkish Airlines, launched new direct flights to destinations in Europe last month. The new terminal is expected to serve 5.5 million passengers in 2009 and has the capacity to serve 25 million passengers a year. A multinational consortium made up of Turkey’s Limak Holding, GMR Infrastructure and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad operates the airport. The consortium won the 20-year management rights’to’ ‘the airport May 1, 2008, in return for 1.9 billion euros. SCHEDULE: Blu-express will fly six times a week between Rome and Istanbul.

Istanbul Opens World’s Largest Earthquake-Safe Building

The world’s largest seismically isolated building, the new international terminal at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport, is now complete and open for business.

Stretching across more than 2 million square feet, the terminal doesn’t sit directly on the soil, but rather on more than 300 isolators, bearings that can move side-to-side during an earthquake. The whole building moves as a single unit, which prevents damage from uneven forces acting on the structure.

“What an isolation system does is that it enables the building to move through large displacements in unison, and in doing that, you absorb earthquake energy,” said Atila Zekioglu, the engineer at the firm Arup, who designed the building.

Earthquakes accelerate buildings laterally, whipping them back and forth. Isolators (see photo below) slow down the motion of the building. In the case of the new terminal, the building will only have to withstand one-fifth of the acceleration that it would have had to without the earthquake proofing.

anatolianblock

A devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Istanbul on August 17, 1999 killing 17,000 people and causing billions of dollars in property damage. Scientists estimate it’s more likely than not that the city will be hit by another large quake in the next 30 years. Istanbul is located near the confluence of the Arabian, African, and Eurasian plates. The North Anatolian Fault runs less than 15 miles south of the city. So, like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and a host of other Pacific Rim cities, Istanbul’s builders and planners have to take major earthquake precautions.

Luckily, designing structures for that kind of performance has become cheaper and easier. Increased computing enables better simulations of how buildings will act when an earthquake hits.

Zekioglu and his team ran their building designs through 14 different simulations of earthquakes.

“What we have done over the years is that there are many tests going around the globe in terms of shake tables, testing labs, and what we do is we take that data… test the ability of our seismic simulation software,” he said.

This software, called Dyna, was originally developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the 1970s. It can be used to model what will happen to materials under all kinds of conditions from car crashes to earthquakes to bomb blasts.

The software has allowed engineers like Zekioglu to go beyond simply satisfying the building codes to designing buildings that will really meet the objectives of the structure’s owners. You don’t just want an airport (or a hospital) to stay standing after an earthquake, you want it to be functional.

The Istanbul project is quite similar to what was done with the San Francisco Airport’s international terminal, said Michael Constantinou, a seismic isolation expert at State University of New York at Buffalo, but it uses a newer kind of seismic isolation device.

“This is one of the first projects, at the time they started this thing, to use this advancement,” Constantinou said.

The new type, triple friction pendulum isolators manufactured by Earthquake Protection Systems in Vallejo, are more compact and can reduce the cost of constructing a building, he said. Many buildings, including three new hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area, are now incorporating the new isolators.

Constantinou also highlighted a more general advantage that seismically isolated buildings have: They are actually easier to design because it’s very difficult to quantify how and why a structure will collapse.

“You are designing so that the structure will remain undamaged, and that’s much easier to understand,” he said.

The new terminal is designed to withstand an earthquake as strong as 8.0.

Source:wired science


İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport inaugurates new terminal with close to 10,000sqm of commercial space

TURKEY. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport’s new terminal was inaugurated on 31 October by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan along with Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport CEO Gökhan Buğday. Operations begin next Monday, 9 November, and all commercial services will open for business on the same day.

The terminal has capacity for 25 million passengers a year and almost 10,000sq m of commercial space.

Buğday said that the 2009 winter schedule would include 21 domestic and 58 international destinations, which will drive passenger volumes through the location. In 2009 the airport is expected to handle 6 million passengers.

The airport authority is keen to become a bridge between East and West, and to drive traffic growth through expansion into Russia, the CIS states and the Middle East.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport was profiled in the September issue of The Moodie Report Print Edition

The airport is managed under a 20-year build-operate-transfer contract by a consortium of GMR Group, Malaysia Airports and Turkey’s Limak Holdings.

The new terminal houses 5,000sq m of space for food & beverage and 4,500sq m for duty free. Setur Duty Free operates the duty free business,with food & beverage being handled by airport-owned subsidiary LGM as well as a number of local concessionaires. Other facilities include a hotel, a 400sq m conference centre and a VIP building, plus CIP and business class lounges.

Speaking to The Moodie Report before the opening, SGIA Chief Commercial Officer Server Aydin said non-aeronautical revenues were forecast to rise from 30% of the airport’s income to 50% eventually with the addition of the new terminal.

Source:themoodiereport

Sabiha Gökçen’s shining ambition

The powerful consortium that manages Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SGIA) has a far-reaching vision for Istanbul’s second airport – a vision that will become reality with the opening of a new terminal of 29 October. Dermot Davitt pays a visit ahead of the unveiling and finds the commercial management team in bullish mood about the prospects for growth as SGIA.

Senior management at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SGIA) think, and talk, with heady ambition about their plans for the Turkish capital’s second airport. They want SGIA to become the ‘preferred airport for commercial aviation in Istanbul and Anatolia’, and are determined to see Sabiha Gökçen ranked as one of the region’s best airports by all major measures – one that will handle 25 million passengers a year in less than ten years, from a projected 6 million in 2009.

The scale of those ambitions is big, but not surprising. It’s driven by the three partners in the airport consortium: GMR, India’s leading infrastructure company and airports group; Limak Holding, a leading Turkish conglomerate with interests ranging from energy to food to tourism; and Malaysia Airports – one of Asia Pacific’s fastest-growing airport groups and operator of Kuala Lumpur International.

Together the partners have poured their ambition – matched by more than € 1.93 billion in finance – into acquiring the 20-year Build-Operate-Transfer rights to SGIA last year, and have set about investing more than € 300 million in the airport’s infrastructure. And on 29 October the first phase of that investment will be complete when a new terminal opens at SGIA.

When that happens retail, food & beverage and other consumer services will receive a huge boost, according to SGIA Chief Commercial Officer Server Aydın. “Currently non-aeronautical revenues account for 30 % of income at SGIA, but this will eventually rise to 50 % at the new terminal,” he says. “The experience and know-how of the airport consortium partners, as well as the consumer-friendly design of the terminal, will help us raise the proportion of non-aeronautical revenues.”
Passenger comfort and ease of use were central design principles, ne notes. “The major principle behind the new terminal is to make it passenger friendly, and add a level of comfort to travelers while they use our facility. We want easy access without long queues, and the logical flow of the terminal helps this. If passengers are stressed about getting around, they simply don’t shop.”
In creating the commercial zones – duty free comes first as the passenger emerges airside after passport control, followed closely by food & beverage – SGIA’s management was keen to understand travelers’ needs and tap into them as they embark on their journeys.
“A vital element has been how we placed key retail and food & beverage activities close together so that passengers can dine or shop in adjacent areas,” says Aydın. “It is more commercially effective to take this integrated approach – and in some ways is similar to, for example, Heathrow Terminal 3.”
The new terminal houses a hotel, a 400 sq m conference centre, a VIP building, CIP and business class lounges, as well as 5,000 sq m of food & beverage outlets and 4,500 sq m of duty free space. Setur Duty Free will operate the duty free business (as it does in the existing terminal) while food & beverage will be handled by airport-owned subsidiary LGM as well as a number of local concessionaries.
“Duty free is always a major channel for any airport, and the biggest non-aeronautical revenue stream,” says Aydın. “With Setur we believe we have the best partner, and the right partner for us. They have increased revenues by +30 % in the existing terminal since taking over the operation in July 2008. With a 20-year contract it means we have stability and consistency, and we can work together closely for the long term.”
Aydın says the food & beverage offer will mix international brands with well-known Turkish names. “Passengers will see brands such as Burger King and Gloria Jean’s Coffee, but also their favorite Turkish brands. It’s vital for us to target Turkish tastes: domestic passenger volumes have been rising faster than international numbers recently, so that market needs to be served. We also plan to watchful on F & B pricing – which has been the source of complaints against some airports in recents years – and we will benchmark carefully against down town prices as well as other airports.”

With almost 10.000 sq m of retail and food & beverage space at an airport that handled 4.3 million passengers last year, isn’t there a danger of SGIA being over-retailed, we ask?
Not at all, says Aydın. “Just look at our growth rates. Our international passenger number grew by +28% in 2008 over 2007, while the increase was +6.7 % at Atatürk, and an average +7.8 % in Turkey as a whole. Tourism to Istanbul is on the rise. Other European nationalities are discovering that there is more to Turkey than sun, sea and sand; there is a whole culture to discover, too.
The city had 7.7 million tourists in 2008, but this will reach an estimated 20 million by 2015. By then we’ll be at capacity, and we will begin to develop plans for a further 15,000 sq m of space. We have plans to add satellite terminals to the main terminal building, and to add a new runway by 2012.
“Our transit traffic is becoming very important too. Last year our transit numbers rose by +78%, and that will be a factor in our continuing growth. We want to be a bridge between East and West, and to connect Europe with the Middle East and Asia. That’s part of the strategy for growth, and for attracting new airlines. We want to encourage interlining in which airlines agree to handle passengers travelling on multiple airlines along their journey –Ed through SGIA, and specifically we see potential to link low-cost carriers from Europe into Asia Pacific. The success of Turkish Airlines has been partly down to interlining agreements. We think the low-cost model needs to change, and interlining with other low-cost carriers can add value to the passenger.”
This year and next the airline marketing strategy will also include targeting Russian and CIS carriers. “Passengers from that region stand at just 3% of our business today, but we would like the proportion to be 20%,” says Aydın.

Like many of SGIA’s targets, it’s ambitious and bold. But commercial management is confident that it can meet those targets once the new terminal is open for business.
“Not only is tourism increasing but we have a catchment area of 17.5 million people within striking distance in Turkey, here on the Anatolian side of Istanbul,” Aydın says bullishly. “There are major industrial and residential areas around Izmit, Gebze, Bursa, Sakarya and Yalova. And a new undersea rail tunnel, the Marmaray Project, will link the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorous by 2012, improving connections right across the city.
“SGIA only opened in 2001 but it is already the third largest airport in Turkey, and at current rates of growth we’ll be second by 2011. We have 45 international routes now, and the plan is to double that. So I’m very optimistic about the future.

SGIA passengers by nationality 2008

  • Germany 34%
  • United Kingdom 17%
  • Turkey 11%
  • Netherlands 7%
  • Switzerland 7%
  • Iran %
  • Russian Federation 3 %
  • Denmark 3%
  • Italy 2%
  • Kuwait 2%
  • Slovakia 2%
  • United Arab Emirates 2%
  • Others 6%


SGIA passenger traffic 2001 - 2009

  • 2001
DP : 11,924 - IP : 35,453 - TP : 47,277
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2002
DP : 2,975 - IP : 127,302 - TP : 130,277
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2003
DP : 2,826 - IP : 154,346 - TP : 157,172
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2004
DP : 10,323 - IP : 235,278 - TP : 245,601
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2006
DP : 2,153,561 - IP : 762,893 - TP : 2,916,454
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2007
DP : 2,563,283 - IP : 1,228,342 - TP : 3,791,625
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2008
DP : 2,789,743 - IP : 1,568,967 - TP : 4,358,710
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers
  • 2009 est.
DP : 3,921,000 - IP : 2,214,500 - TP : 6,135,500
DP: Domestic Passengers - IP: International Passengers - TP: Total Passengers

Source: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

By Dermot Davitt
The Moodie Report
September 09

Istanbul’s second airport to serve 25 mln passengers

Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, the smaller of the city’s two main airports, will have the capacity to serve 20 million passengers a year by 2012 following the opening of a new international terminal building.

The airport’s new terminal, along with additional buildings, was opened with a ceremony on Oct. 31 that was attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The construction, which began on May 3 under the partnership of Turkish, Malaysian and Indian companies, finished a year earlier than expected.

“The airport had 4 million passengers when we offered a bid,” said Nihat Özdemir, chairman of Limak Holding, which bid 2.28 billion euros, including value added tax, to operate the airport in July 2007 with GMR Infrastructure and Malaysia Airports Holdings. “Today its capacity has reached 6.1 million. The project’s term was normally 30 months but we resolved to finish it within 18 months. Today, we have finished it a year early, which is a world record. Passenger numbers are expected to rise to 8.5 million by 2010.”

A second runway will be built at the airport on the Asian side of the city within three years, Özdemir said, adding that this will enable the target for 25 million passengers. “The capacity can easily rise to 50 million people in the future.”

Sabiha Gökçen will also expand its connections as of Nov. 9 with the launch of Turkish Airlines’ international flights from the airport, he said.

“We expect an increase of 15 percent in the numbers of passengers at Sabiha Gökçen next year,” said G.M. Rao, chairman of GMR Infrastructure, the Indian partner of Limak Holding. “Istanbul Atatürk Airport is already overloaded. We see the future at Sabiha Gökçen.”

Noting that doing business in Turkey is a privilege, Rao said: “Three hands coming together beat a record in Turkey. We would like to invest also in other fields, particularly the energy sector in Turkey.”

Dr. Aris Bin Othman from the Malaysian partner Tan Sri Datuk said: “Both Malaysia and Turkey have a great potential. Increasing flights from both countries is reasonable. Malaysia Airlines has decided to fly to Turkey three times a day.”

Around 7,000 people worked on the construction of the new terminal, which covers 320,000 square meters at the airport. The completed units include new domestic and international terminals, a multistory car park with a capacity for 4,718 vehicles and 72 buses, a 128-room airport hotel, a VIP building and a CIP division.

The terminal building includes 112 check-in and 24 self check-in counters, an 8,000 square meter food court and 5,000 square meters of duty free shops. The airport will be able to simultaneously serve eight large- and 16 medium-body airplanes.

Gökhan Buğday, chief executive officer of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, said that Turkey’s biggest airport hotel with 328 rooms will soon be opened.

According to the annual statistics of the General Directorate of Airport Authorities, Istanbul Atatürk Airport carried 28.55 million while Sabiha Gökçen carried 4.28 million passengers in 2008.

Source:hurriyetdailynews

The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA) is expected to continue growing significantly in passenger arrivals, thanks to rising demand for low-fare flights and the country’s booming tourism industry.

The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA) is expected to continue growing significantly in passenger arrivals, thanks to rising demand for low-fare flights and the country’s booming tourism industry.

In anticipation of rapid growth, the Turkish authority has allocated some 100 million euros to build a second runway at the ISGIA, said Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Uluslararasi Havalimani Yatirim, Yapim Ve Isletme A.S. (ISG) chief executive officer Gokhan Bugday.

The new runway is expected to be completed by 2012.

ISG, which holds the operation rights of the airport for 20 years, is a joint venture between Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), GMR Infrastructure Ltd of India and Turkish company Limak Insaat ve San Tic AS on a 20:40:40 basis.

According to Bugday, the airport is expected to grow 50% next year from this year’s estimated passenger arrivals of 6.1 million.
“Turkey is an important point in this region. The Ataturk Airport is already constrained, so the growth will come from ISGIA, where passenger arrivals is expected reach 10 million by 2010,” he said at a briefing in conjunction with the launch of ISGIA’s new terminal on Oct 31.

ISGIA is an economic airport, offering 25% discounts on landing and parking fees to low-cost airlines. The cost of the new terminal as well as the car park and hotels is about 500 million euros.
Bugday said Turkey was “the bridge between Asia and Europe,” and therefore, did not see any significant impact on its aviation sector from the global economic downturn.

The country’s aim was to become the transit hub between Asia and Europe, like Amsterdam, he added.

According to Limak chairman Nihat Ozdemir, the Turkish government is already mulling the idea of setting up a third airport in Istanbul due to the strong growth in passenger arrivals.
The proposal was still preliminary but if the conditions were attractive, the consortium of Limak-GMR-MAHB would consider it, he said.

GMR chairman GM Rao said the ISGIA had the advantage of having existing traffic volume, which unlike greenfield airports would have to build demand from zero.

The airport charges a service fee of three euros per passenger for domestic routes and 12 euros for international destinations.
It also offers services like refuelling, cargo warehousing and ground-handling to airlines.

Bugday said the payback period for the investment, including construction and future rentals, was seven to eight years.

This is the second collaboration between MAHB and GMR, after their involvement in the Hyderabad International Airport and Delhi International Airport projects in India.

MAHB chairman Tan Sri Aris Othman said airport development involved building capacity ahead of time to cater for future growth, and was not merely to meet existing demand.
Turkey, with its rapidly growing economy, offered a good opportunity for the airport operator to widen its presence overseas, he said.
He added that there were eight MAHB personnel involved in the operational readiness and airport transfer exercise of the ISGIA, which commenced six months ago.

“Our airport consultancy arm, Malaysia Airports Consultancy Services, is continuously exploring other overseas opportunities to further expand our expertise and knowledge in airport management,” Aris said.

GMR is India’s leading infrastructure company with a market value of more than US$7bil, specialising in infrastructure development, energy, roads and airport projects.

Limak, meanwhile, is a huge Turkish conglomerate involved in a wide range of sectors like construction, energy, tourism, cement, food and aviation.
Source:thestaronline

Turkish Airlines has responded to the rapid growth of low-cost rivals Pegasus and SunExpress by expanding its network from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), Istanbul’s second, but fast-growing airport.

Turkish Airlines has responded to the rapid growth of low-cost rivals Pegasus and SunExpress by expanding its network from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), Istanbul’s second, but fast-growing airport. Until now, the national carrier had only operated domestic flights from the airport but this week saw the launch of seven international routes and an additional domestic route. Amsterdam (AMS), Cologne/Bonn (CGN), London Stansted (STN), Moscow Domodedovo (DME) and Stuttgart (STR) will all be served daily, while Berlin Schönefeld (SXF) gets four weekly flights and Hannover (HAJ) three. All of these routes (except Moscow) are already served by either Pegasus and/or SunExpress. Adana (ADA) gets a double-daily service to compete against Pegasus’ three daily flights. Source:anna.aero

Turkish Air Carrier To Fly To Europe From Istanbul’s Asian Airport

ISTANBUL (A.A) - 15.09.2009 - Turkey’s national air carrier is set to launch flights from an airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul to several destinations in Europe.

The Turkish Airlines (THY) will begin flights on November 9 to Moscow, London, Cologne, Stuttgart, Berlin, Hannover and Amsterdam from Istanbul’s Sahiba Gokcen Airport, the city’s second largest airport, THY’s Deputy Director Orhan Sivrikaya said.

Sivrikaya said THY was planning to increase the number of its passengers using Sabiha Gokcen Airport from 1 million to 1.8 million in 2010.

Istanbul major airport, the Ataturk Airport, is located on the European side of the city. (İMB-MS)

Istanbul’s 2nd Airport To Reach 25 Million Passengers By 2023

ISTANBUL -(Dow Jones)- Sabiha Gokcen Airport operator ISG Chief Executive Gokhan Bugday said Tuesday that Istanbul’s second airport, which is based on the Asian side of the city, is planning to host 25 million passengers in 2023, the Ihlas News Agency, or IHA, reports.

Bugday told Ihlas News Agency in an interview that they expect Sabiha Gokcen, which hosted 4.5 million passengers in 2008, to reach 20 million passengers by 2018.

A consortium comprising of Turkish construction firm Limak, India’s GMR Infrastructure and Malaysia Airports Holdings acquired operating rights of Sabiha Gokcen Airport by submitting a EUR1.9 billion bid last year.

In terms of the deal, the consortium will build an international terminal and will run Sabiha Gokcen airport for 20 years.

Bugday said that ISG will invest a total of EUR450 million in Sabiha Gokcen.

"A significant part of these investments contains building the new international terminal. We are planning to put the new terminal into service Oct. 31 , which will contribute to the rapid development of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and increase its annual passenger capacity to 25 million" Bugday said.

Bugday also said that the Defense Industry Undersecretariat is planning to construct a new 60 meter wide runway in 2012 in Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

"We will have the capacity to host (Airbus) A380 airplanes with this investment. I expect the second runway to increase our plane and passenger numbers," Bugday said.

Agency Web sites: www.iha.com.tr; www.ihavideo.net

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
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New Terminal, Completed in 18 Months, Increases the Capacity to 6.1 Million

Passenger capacity of Sabiha Gokcen reached 6 million 100 thousand people with the new terminal which was planned to be built in 30 months in the beginning, but completed in 18 months upon the request of the government. The target is to reach 8.5 million people in 2010...

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan participated in the opening of new terminal of Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Sabiha Gokcen Airport CEO Gokhan Bugday, Chairman of Limak Holding Board of Directors Nihat Ozdemir, Chairman of MAHB Board of Directors Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Aris Bin Othman, the Malaysian shareholder, and Chairman of GMR Infrastructure Board of Directors G. M. Rao, the Indian shareholder, participated in the press conference that was held before the opening ceremony.

Resistant to Earthquake of Magnitude 7.5

Speaking in the press conference, Gokhan Bugday, CEO of Sabiha Gokcen Airport, noted that they completed the construction of the airport 1 year before the anticipated date. Bugday said that they established a large construction site for the project and the airport was constructed on 296 main carriers and is resistant to earthquakes of magnitude 7.5. Noting that they will open Turkey’s biggest airport hotel with 328 rooms here soon, Bugday reported that more than 60 airline companies fly through Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Bugday said that the airport will be completely international when THY starts its flights through Sabiha Gokcen starting from November 9 and added, "Flights to Moscow, Cologne and Amsterdam will be started as of 9th November."

In the question-answer part, Nihat Ozdemir, Chairman of Limak Holding Board of Directors, replied the question "Do you think you offered a reasonable price?" saying, " The airport had 4 million passengers in the time we submitted our offer. Nearly 2 years passed and passenger capacity of this terminal reached 6.1 million. This project had a period of 30 months. However, we promised to complete it in 18 months. We were really concerned whether we would manage to do so. Yet, we were able to finish it 1 year before the anticipated date, this is a world record. We are projected to reach 8.5 million passengers by 2010. We have not undergone any negative conditions so far."

7 Thousand Workers Employed in the Project

ISG, founded jointly by Limak Holding (LIMAK), GMR Infrastructure (GMR) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhard (MAHB), started the construction of new terminal as soon as it obtained 20-year operating rights of the airport. ISG, which completed the construction of an area of 500 thousand sq m in total, 430 thousand sq m of which are closed area, made investments of EUR 500 million in total. Approximately 7 thousand workers worked in the construction stage. 27 thousand tons of steel, 280 thousand cubic meters of concrete and 64 thousand sq m of granite were used. 122 air conditioning stations, 70 thousand sq m of air channels and 164 thousand sq m of pipes were laid. The terminal also comprises a multi-storey car park for 4.718 vehicles and 72 buses, an airport hotel with 128 rooms, a VIP building and a CIP section with apron view.

International Flights Start on November 9

Speaking in the press conference organized before the opening ceremony, Nihat Ozdemir, Chairman of Limak Holding Board of Directors, said, "The flights are continued. We added an area of nearly 2 thousand sq m. When THY starts its international flights on November 9, we will be an international airport." Asked whether a new runway will be constructed or not, Ozdemir said, "There is a need for the second runway. Undersecretariat of the Defence Industry thinks the same. Construction of the second runway was started. A nationalisation plan is being prepared. The runway will be completed in 2012. We will have reached our target of 25 million passengers. The capacity can be easily expanded to 50 million passengers."

Finished Like Greased Lightning

Prime Minister Erdogan opened the new terminal of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. Construction of the terminal was completed in 18 months, instead of 30 months and the capacity of the airport will reach 25 million.

Growth Like Greased Lightning

New terminal of Sabiha Gokcen was opened. The terminal, which was finished in 18 months even though it was planned to be completed in 30 months, will expand the capacity to 25 million passengers and create employment for 10 thousand people.

New terminal of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which was opened in Istanbul Pendik in 2001 and criticized for being idle in its first years, and its annexes were opened by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

Finished in 18 Months

Partners of Istanbul Sahiba Gokcen International Airport Investment, Construction and Operation (ISG), namely Limak Holding Chairman Nihat Ozdemir, GMR Infrastructure Chairman G. M. Rao, MAHB Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Aris Bin Otham, and ISG CEO Gokhan Bugday held a press conference before the opening and gave some information.

ISG, which took over the 20-year operating rights of Sabiha Gokcen on May 1, 2008 for EUR 1 billion 932 million and started the construction of the annexes soon after the transfer of the operating rights, finished the construction of an area of 500 thousand sq m in total, 430 thousand sq m of which are closed area, in 18 months, which was, in fact, was anticipated to be finished in 30 months, by making investments of EUR 500 million.

Employment for 10 Thousand People

Speaking in the press conference, Nihat Ozdemir said, "We made this investment while the world was suffering from the global crisis, we provided employment for more than 10 thousand people and we will transfer EUR 3.3 billion to the public sector." Ozdemir noted that when they submitted their bid, number of passengers was 4 million, but now it reached 6.1 million and they will reach 8.5 million passengers in 2010. Ozdemir reported that international flights will start on November 9 and added, "We added an area of nearly 2 thousand sq m. We will become an international airport on the day THY starts its international flights."

Great Potential

G. M. Rao, the Indian shareholder, said, "We expect 15 pct increase in the number of passengers. Ataturk Airport is overloaded. Future lies in Sabiha Gokcen." Tan Sri, the Malaysian shareholder, on the other hand, said, "Malaysia and Turkey are two countries having passenger potential. It will be reasonable when flights from both countries are increased. Malaysian Airlines decided to fly to Turkey three times a week."

Two Airports are Not Enough for Istanbul

Opening the terminal, Prime Minister Erdogan noted that two airports are not enough for Istanbul. "There are some times that no slot is given. So, the passengers feel annoyed when the planes turn around in the air. We are carrying out works to this end. All of these are not even enough for Istanbul."

Prime Minister Erdogan noted that they plan to complete the third bridge as soon as possible and said that they think big and take big steps to reveal the potential of not only Istanbul, but also all other provinces.

Second Runway to Be Finished in 2012

Nihat Ozdemir reported that passenger capacity of Sabiha Gokcen reached 25 million with this new terminal and said following:

"There is need for a second runway. Undersecretariat of the Defence Industry thinks the same. A nationalisation plan is being prepared. The runway will be completed in 2012. Thus, we will be the biggest in terms of landing and take-off capacity. Our passanger capacity will reach 50 million." Gokhan Bugday, ISG CEO, on the other hand, said that EUR 100 million was allocated as land expropriation fee for the second runway and they want Airbus 380 to land in this runway.

Bugday noted that Sabiha Gokcen is the airport that is easiest to reach in terms of the access to the airport and added, "We are the only airport that can be reached without stopping on red light."

Terminal is Resistant to Severe Earthquake

Here are the construction stages and main features of ISG:

- The airport was constructed on 296 main carriers and is resistant to earthquake of magnitude 7.5.
- Approximately 7 thousand workers worked in the construction stage.
- New national and international flights terminal comprises a multi-storey car park for 4.718 vehicles and 72 buses.

Parking System

- Terminal comprises an airport hotel with 128 rooms, a VIP building and a CIP section with apron view.
- There are 112 check-in and 24 self check-in counters.
- There are a food court of 8 thousand sq m, commercial area of 5 thousand 500 sq m and duty-free area of 5 thousand sq.
- A multiple plane parking system that will serve 8 large and 16 medium sized planes at the same time will be put into operation.


8.5 Million Passengers to Be Reached in 2010

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated in the opening ceremony of the second terminal of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport worth 500 million Euros. Hosting 6.1 million passengers this year, Sabiha Gokcen will reach 8.5 million passengers in 2010 with the launch of the new terminal.

Second Runway to Sabiha Gokcen on the Way

Limak Board Chairman Nihat Ozdemir said that they started preparations for the second runway in the opening ceremony of the new terminal building of Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Ozdemir said, "Fund has been allocated. The runway will be completed in 2012."

Delivering a speech before the opening ceremony of the new 500 million Euro terminal building of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport attended by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Limak Board Chairman Nihat Ozdemir said that they started preparations for the second runway.

When asked whether a new runway and terminal were on the agenda or not, Ozdemir said, "2nd runway is required. Undersecretariat of Defence Industry also agrees. Works have been stated for the 2nd runway. Works are going on to disappropriate the land. The required fund has been allocated with the order of the PM. Runway will be ready in 2012. When Sabiha Gokcen Airport has the 2nd runway, it will be the biggest airport of Turkey in terms of landing/take off capacity."

"Passenger capacity increases to 50 million"

Ozdemir said that the passenger capacity of the airport could increase to 50 million if required contructions are made. He said that the width of the second runway would be 60 metres and its length would be 3.500 metres.

In response to the question "Do you think that the amount you have offered in the tender was reasonable?", Nihat Ozdemir said: "When we offered the bid on that date (July 2007), the airport had 4 million passengers. It has been 2 years since. The passenger capacity reached up to 6.1 million", adding that compared to the airports worldwide, ISG is the fastest growing airport.

Expressing that they completed the construction works 1 year before the anticipated date, and they are aiming at reaching a figure of 8.5 million passengers, Ozdemir said: "Since the day we first bid for the tender, we have not encountered with any negative situation. The developments indicate that the airport will improve further."

THY to Start with Flights to Europe with 7 Locations on Nov 9

Sabiha Gokcen CEO Gokhan Bugday noted that with the new domestic and international line flight locations added on the winter tariff for 2009, flights are carried out to 21 locations on a domestic scale and 58 locations on an international scale, and noted that in the ariport where currently more than 60 airline companies fly, with the opening of the new terminal, they anticipate a serious rise in the number of scheduled international flights. Noting that Turkish airlines will fly from Sabiha Gokcen to 7 locations in Europe as of November 9, Bugday said: "Pegasus and Sunexpress also decided to fly to the new international line locations".


Look, Now Turkey Is Really Flying

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Aviation has grown 5 pct worldwide and 30 pct in Turkey. Turkey will start flying, we used to say, and Turkey is literally flying now."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "While the aviation worldwide grew at the rate of 5 pct, it started growing by 30 pct in Turkey. We used to say "Turkey will start flying" and Turkey is literally flying now." Erdogan noted during the speech he delivered at the ceremony held for the opening of the new terminal building and additional buildings of Sabiha Gokcen Airport that they will drive the airports out of luxury categorization and will make it the line of the people and said they are happy to be catching up with that aim."

Airplanes Are Now Ahead

Telling that they said that each citizen will be able to fly at least once in their lifetime and started working on that, Erdogan added: "Leave aside flying only for once, the airplanes have become one of the favorite means of transportation. " Erdogan said many airports constructed in the past for political interests are now out of service and used as fields for feeding animals, and expressed that they have revised the projects of these airports and hand in hand with the private sector, reactivated these with the build-operate-transfer system and also built new airports in addition to these.

5 Firms 44 Locations

Erdogan went on as follows: "In the year 2002, a single private firm used to fly to 25 locations from two centers. In 2009, 5 firms fly to 44 locations from 7 centers. We have taken steps for liberalization in the civil aviation. Private sector started to conduct scheduled flights. While the aviation worldwide grows by 5 pct, Turkey started to rise and grow by 30 pct. We used to say that Turkey would start flying, and now it is literally flying. The number of the domestic flight passengers used to be 8.7 million in 2002, and today it is above 35 million with 285 pct of rise. The number of the international flight passengers increased by 60 pct in a similar way. The number of international flight passengers rose from 25 million up to 40 million."

100 Thousand Employees

Erdogan said this is reflected significantly on the recruitment and the number of the qualified personnel in the sector, which was 48 thousand in 2002, reached up to 100 thousand in 2009. Pointing out that they will further improve the airlines sector, Erdogan said: "The number of passengers in 2013 will reach up to 140 million. This is our target".

We Did not Spend Any State Sources, the Fund Will Earn 2 Billion Euros

Prime Minister Erdogan noted that the partners of the consortium that finished the construction of the new terminal building 18 months earlier also held the opening ceremony 3 days earlier and pointed out that this has been achieved without any costs to the state resources. Erdogan stated that with the build-operate-transfer model, around 2 million Euros will be granted to the Defense Industry Supporting Fund.

Marmaray to Link Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that Sabiha Gokcen Airport has relaxed the air and city traffic of Istanbul to a significant extent: "We will link here with Marmaray. When Marmaray is completed, there will be a transportation link from here to Ataturk Airport." Erdogan said that they will thus find the opportunity to carry the balance between the Asian and European sides to a healthier point.


Sabiha Gokcen Breaks Record, Also Dreaming of 50 Million Passengers

The new terminal building and the additional buildings of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport were opened 1 year before the planned date. Noting that the completion of the building in 18 months is a world record, Limak Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors Nihat Ozdemir said: "After the 2nd runway is completed in 2012, the passenger capacity will reach 25 million passengers. The capacity may as well rise up to 50 million passengers easily".

Founded with the partnership pf Turkish, Malaisian and Indian companies, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Uluslararasi Havaliman Yatirim Yapim ve Isletme A.S. (ISG) completed the new terminal building and the additional buildings, the construction works for which started on May 3, 1 year before the targeted date and opened these with a ceremony with the participation of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. In response to the question "Do you think that the price assessed during the tender (2 billion 280 million euros with VAT included) is reasoable?" Limak Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors Nihat Ozdemir said: "When we offered the bid on that date (July 2007), the airport had 4 million passengers. It has been 2 years since. The passenger capacity reached up to 6.1 million. The duration of the project was 30 months. We have undertaken that we would complete it within 18 months. Could we do it? We had worries on that. Today, we have broken a world record and completed it 1 year before. It is evident that we will reach 8.5 million passengers in 2010. We have never been in a difficult situation so far."

International Flights to be Opened on November 9

Noting that they have added a space of 2 thousand meters approximately to the airport, Nihat Ozdemir went on as follows: "As of November 9, we will become an international airport on the day when the International Flights will start with Turkish Airlines. There is a need for a second runway in the upcoming period. The Defense Industry Undesecretariat shares the opinion. The construction of the second runway started. The expropriation plan is under process. The runway will have been completed in 2012. Thus, we will have reached 25 million passengers, which is the target for us. This area could easily reach a capacity of 50 million passengers."

The Future Lies in Sabiha Gokcen

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indian partner GMR Infrastructure, G.M. Rao said: "We anticipate a rise of 15 pct in the number of passengers for the next year. Ataturk Airport is overloaded. The future lies in Sabiha Gokcen". The Malaysian partner Tan Sri Datuk Dr Aris Bin Othman said: "Malaysia and Turkey are two countries with an immense potential. A rise in the number of flights from both countries will be reasonable. Malaysia Airlines decided to fly 3 times per week to Turkey." Meanwhile, noting that doing business in Turkey is a privilege, G.M. Rao said: "The three sides came together and broke a record. We are willing to invest in Turkey in other subjects, especially in energy".

How Many Passengers Flought from Which Airport?

Istanbul Ataturk: 28 million 553 Thousand
Antalya: 18 million 789 thousand
Ankara Esenboga: 5 million 692 thousand
Izmir Adnan Menderes: 5 million 455 thousand
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen: 4 million 284 thousand
Dalaman: 3 million 749 thousand
Milas-Bodrum: 2 million 749 thousand
Adana: 2 million 290 thousand
Trabzon: 1 million 469 thousand
Diyarbakir: 967 thousand

7 Thousand People Worked, 25 Million People to Fly

-During the construction of the project, which is one of the biggest investments of Turkey, around 7 thousand workers were employed. With the new terminal building of 320 thousand square meters, the capacity will rise up to 25 million passengers.

-New domestic and international flights terminal among the completed units, 4 thousand 718 vehicles and 72 bus capacity, multi-story parking lot, airport hotel of 128 rooms, VIP building and CIP sections with an apron view are available.

-In the terminal building 112 check-in and 24 self check-in contours, 8 thousandsquare meters of food court, 5 thousand 500 square meters of commercial area and 5 thousand square meters of duty free area are available.

-Aside from these, 8 multi-airplane parking systems will also be active in order to serve for 16 medium size and 8 large size airplanes.

A Hotel with 328 Rooms to Be Opened

The CEO of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Uluslararasi Havalimani Yatirim Yapim ve Isletme A.S. (ISG) Gokhan Bugday said they will also open the biggest airport hotel of Turkey, with a capacity of 328 rooms, soon.


Sabiha Gokcen Opens New Terminal, to Build a Runway Also for A380

The new terminal building and the additional buildings of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (ISG) were opened. The investment that was completed in 18 months cost 500 million euros. The new target is to build a runway where the world’s largest airplane A380 will land.

The newest airport of Europe, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport’s new terminal building and the additional buildings have been opened. The construction works were completed in 18 months with investment worth 500 million euros. Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony where Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan also participated, the CEO of ISG Gokhan Bugday expressed that the area that is anticipated to be completed within 30 months has been completed in 18 months and told that with the new terminal building of 320 thousand square meters, the passenger capacity will rise up to 8 million next year. Bugday said: "When we took over here, the passenger capacity was 4 million. The number of passengers has been 6.1 million this year. Our target is 8.5 million for next year and 25 million passengers for 2012."

Second Runway to Be Built

Telling that the required grants for the construction of the second runway of the airport have been spared and the projects works are continuing, Bugday said the followings:

"For the expropriation costs of the second runway, 100 million euro was spent. Currently, on the one hand, the expropriation studies and on the other hand project studies are being conducted. With the second runway, ISG will be the largest capacity airport in Turkey. The runway that is planned to be activated in the year 2012 has a width of 60 meters and a length of 3500 meters. Our dream is to make an Airbus 380 land on that runway."

The Airbus 380, with two story hull, is known as the largest airplane worldwide.

Access without Red Light

Expressing that ISG is the airport with the easiest access in terms of access opportunities, Bugday told as follows:

"This is the only airport with access without red light. We have a peerless location both with mass transport and the land and sea routes. We have a system that provides 100 pct of passenger and human safety with the highest technology anticipated from an airport. We will also be opening the biggest airport hotel in Turkey with a capacity of 128 rooms, soon".

Bugday also added that the area with 25 million passenger capacity has been constructed to be able to host 50 million passengers. Bugday expressed that with the opening of the new terminal, more than 60 airlines companies has been carrying out flights in ISG, where a rise in the number of scheduled international flights is also anticipated.

Nihat Ozdemir: Prime Minister Requested, Partners Abided

Limak Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors Nihat Ozdemir expressed that they have created recruitment for 10 thousand people with the investment in ISG and 3 billion 3 million euro was gained by the state. Telling that they took over the operation rights on the airport for a term of 20 years on may 1, 2008 and immediately started with the construction works, Ozdemir said the followings:

"While the world was undergoing crisis, we made this investment. The construction was planned to be completed within 30 months. However, Prime Minister Erdogan requested from us to finish that in 18 months. Our partners GMR Infrastructure (GMR) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhard (MAHB) have accepted that request. The construction work of a total area of 500 thousand square meters with a covered area of 430 thousand square meters was completed in 18 months."

Giant Construction Area Was Founded

-The new terminal was built with a structure with endurance against 7.5 intensity earthquakes.
-Around 7 thousand people were employed in the construction area.
-27 thousand tons of steel, 280 thousand cubic meters of concrete and 64 thousand square meters of granite was used.
-122 air conditioning centers were established.
-70 thousand square meters of air channel, 164 thousand meters of piping and 1.5 million square meters of cable furnishing was made.

Capacity Is 50 Million

-The airport was designed to have a capacity to host 50 million passengers.
-A multi-story parking lot with a capacity of 4 thousand 718 vehicles and 71 buses.
-There is a hotel of 128 rooms, VIP building and a CIP section with a view of the apron.
-In the terminal building, there are 112 check-in and 24 self check-in counters.
-A multiple airplane parking system that will serve concurrently for 8 large and 16 medium hull airplanes will also be activated.

We Are Waiting for You to Come to Malaysia

The Chairman of MAHB, the Malaysian partner of Limak Dr Aris invited Limak, which they anticipate to cooperate in other projects, to Malaysia. The Chairman of GMR Infrastructure, the Indian partner, G.M. Rao told that they did not receive monetary aid from their country, however, they have been supported by their own government after the tender, especially in terms of visa.

Election Hearsays Dropped Stock Exchange

Noting that they are glad to have a new terminal building in the airport that was named after Sabiha Gokcen, the adopted daughter of Ataturk, Prime Minister Erdogan also mentioned about the early election rumors.

Erdogan said that the Stock Exchange dropped because of early election dispute.

Turkey Flies

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan noted in his speech in the opening of new terminal of Sabiha Gokcen Airport that Turkish aviation sector grew faster than the world and said, "We always used to say ‘Turkey will fly’, now Turkey really flies."

Promise to Prime Minister

ISG, which was founded jointly with Limak Holding that took over the operating rights of Sabiha Gokcen Airport, kept its promise to Prime Minister. New terminal and its annexes were opened one year before the anticipated date. Construction of the second runway was started. Sabiha Gokcen will be the airport having the highest capacity with this runway which is planned to be finished by 2012 and Airbus 380 type planes will be able land on this airport.

Future Lies Ahead in the Sky

Construction period of new terminal was 30 months. However, it was finished in 18 months upon the request of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. The terminal was opened by Erdogan yesterday. Reminding Ataturk’s saying, "Future lies ahead in the sky", Erdogan said, "The aviation sector which has grown 5 pct all around the world has grown 30 pct in Turkey. We always used to say ‘Turkey will fly’ and now Turkey really flies."

Second Runway on the Way

Erdogan said that Sabiha Gokcen served 47 thousand passengers in 2001, the year it was opened and the airport is able to host 6 million passengers as of 2009. Erdogan also noted that the second runway and other possible investments will promote the airport and it will be one of Turkey’s most important airports, meeting the transportation needs of Istanbul.

Connection to Marmaray from Sabiha Gokcen

Prime Minister Erdogan reported that airway traffic shifted from Ataturk Airport to Sabiha Gokcen and the local traffic also changed in the same direction and told that they improved the local traffic in Istanbul in various ways. "We will connect Marmaray here. When Marmaray is completed, it will be possible to have access to Ataturk Airport. Works on this issue are still in progress. Thus, we will establish a more sound balance between Asia and Europe", Erdogan said.

THY’s First International Flight Passengers to Fly on November 9

Gokhan Bugday, CEO of Sabiha Gokcen Yatirim A.S., said that the capacity will be expanded to 25 million passengers in 2012 with this terminal of 320 thousand sq m. Bugday reported that THY will have flights to 7 destinations in Europe via Sabiha Gokcen starting from November 9 and THY will have flights to Moscow, London, Cologne, Stuttgart, Berlin, Amsterdam and Hannover via Sabiha Gokcen. Budgay also said that they would open Turkey’s biggest airport hotel with 128 rooms within the scope of the project.

We are Dreaming of Landing of Airbus A380

Nihat Ozdemir, Limak Holding Chairman, pointed out to the fact that they finished the construction in a record-breaking period in line with their promise to the Prime Minister. Noting that there is need for a second runway in the airport, Ozdemir said, "Undersecratariat of Defence Industry also supports this second runway. EUR 100 million were allocated for the nationalisation. This runway will be finished in 2012. The second runway will be 60 meters wide and 3500 meters long. We have the dream of landing Airbus A380 in this airport. This new runway will allow it."





Word Kept in Sabiha Gokcen, Studies Start for Second Runway

Having taken over the 20-year operational rights on Sabiha Gokcen Airport, ISG, founded with the partnership of Limak, Indian GMR and Malaysian MAHB, has kept its word to Prime Minister Erdogan. Despite the fact that the construction period of the airport is 30 months, it was completed in 18 months with investment worth 500 million euros and was opened yesterday.

The studies have also started for a second runway. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Limak Holding, Nihat Ozdemir said: "With the new runway to be completed in 2012, Sabiha Gokcen will be the biggest airport in terms of landing on and landing off capacity and even Airbus 380s will be able to land on our runway."

ISG, founded with the partnership of Limak Holding, GMR and MAHB which has undertaken the operating rights of Sabiha Gokcen Airport, kept its word and opened the new terminal building and the additional buildings; the construction of the second runway has also started. With the runway, which is envisaged to be completed in 2012, Sabiha Gokcen will be the highest capacity airport in landing on and off and the Airbus 380 airplanes will also easily land on the airport.

Despite the fact that the construction term for the new terminal building of the airport was projected as 30 months, upon the request from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ISG completed the construction in 18 months and thus broke a record and will carry all flight operations to the new terminal building, where the Turkish Airlines will also start with international flights on November 9. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Limak, among the partners of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Uluslararasi Havalimani Yatirim Yapim ve Isletme A.S. (ISG), Nihat Ozdemir noted that the passenger capacity of the airport reached 6.1 million and in 2010 the figure is targeted to rise up to 8.5 million and said: "An infrastructure with a maximum capacity of 50 million passengers has been established."

Meanwhile, the opening of Sabiha Gokcen Airport was made by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. Delivering a speech before the ceremony, Nihat Ozdemir pointed out that according to the word they gave to Prime Minister Erdogan, they completed the airport construction in a record period and said that this has gained them a period of 1 year in increasing profitability.

8.5 Million Passengers

Telling that at the time they won the tender with Indian GMR Infrastructure and Malaysian MAHB, Sabiha Gokcen Airport had 4 million passengers and it reached up to 6.1 million this year and had a rise of 50 pct in two years, Ozdemir said: "In 2010, we will reach 8.5 million passengers. During that time, Pegasus Airlines increased the number of flight locations, and Sun Express has started with flights for the first time and THY has made a base out of here. The airport will improve beyond our calculations."

Sayinh that there needs to be a second runway in the airport and this was supported by the Defense Industry Undersecretariat, and a grant of 100 million euros was spared for the expropriation costs, Nihat Ozdemir added: "The runway will be completed in 2012 and with this runway, Sabiha Gokcen will be the largest one in terms of landing on and off capacity."

Telling that the second runway will be at the width of 60 meters and at the length of 3500 meters, Ozdemir said: "We have a dream of having an Airbus 380 land on this airport. The new runway will allow us to do so." Telling that Sabiha Gokcen Airport is preferable with its being far away from traffic and its parking lots, Ozdemir said that in a period when fuel is this expensive, with the ease in the parking of airplanes offered here, they have been offering advantages for airline companies.

500 Million Euro Investment in 18 Months

-From Sabiha Gokcen Airport, flights to 21 destinations on an international scale and 58 destinations on a domestic scale are made.

-More than 60 companies carry out flights from the airport.

-The operating rights of Sabiha Gokcen Airport were taken over for 2 billion 280 million euros, for a term of 20 years. A grant of 3.3 billion euros will be made to the state.

-Investment worth 500 million euros was made in 18 months.

-Recruitment was created for 10 thousand people.

We Are Opening the Biggest Airport Hotel

ISG CEO Gokhan Bugday noted that the airport has been constructed to continue with flight operations even in case of an earthquake with intensity of 7.5 and announced that they will also be opening the biggest airport hotel in Turkey with a capacity of 128 rooms. Bugday told that ISG invested 500 million dollars for the construction works and within scope of the project, there are domestic and international lines terminal, hotel, counters, VIP, CIP lounges, commercial areas, duty free, food courts and a parking lot.

Malaysian Airlines to Fly Three Times a Week

MAHB Chairman of the Board of Directors Tan Sri Datuk Dr Aris Bin Othman noted that the studies for increasing the means of transportation between Malaysia and Turkey are continuing and said: "Malaysia airlines decided to fly here for three times a week."

Sabiha Gokcen to be Linked to Marmaray

Participating in the opening ceremony for the new terminal building and the additional buildings of Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they will link the Airport to Marmaray. Erdogan said: "When Marmaray is taken from here, there will be an opportunity to go so far as to reach Ataturk Airport." Also noting that the 2 airports are not sufficient for Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told that a third airport may as well be needed. Erdogan said that he was proud upon seeing the traffic of the airplanes waiting in the apron. Also quoting Ataturk, Erdogan said: "It is not enough only to say that the country is adorned with railway lines. The ones before us could not do it. However, we are continuing doing that. Marmaray will be the best example for this."

Commercial set to play key role at new Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen Airport terminal - 13/07/09

Published: 13/07/09
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt

TURKEY. The 29 October opening of a new terminal at Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport (SGIA) will herald a new era for non-aeronautical revenues at the city’s second airport. That’s according to airport operator Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport Investment Development and Operation Inc – a partnership between GMR Group, Limak Holdings and Malaysia Airports.
Currently non-aeronautical revenues account for 30% of income at SGIA – but this will eventually rise to 50% at the new terminal (which replaces the existing one –Ed), said Chief Commercial Officer Server Aydin.

“The experience and know-how of the airport consortium partners, as well as the consumer-friendly design of the terminal, will help us raise the proportion of non-aeronautical revenues,” Aydin told The Moodie Report in Istanbul.

“The major principle behind the new terminal is to make it passenger-friendly, and add a level of comfort to travellers while they use our facility. We want easy access and no long queues, and the logical flow of the terminal helps this. If passengers are stressed about getting around, they don’t shop.

“A vital element has been how we placed key retail and food & beverage activities close together so that passengers can dine or shop in areas adjacent to each other. It is more commercially effective to take this integrated approach – and in some ways is similar to, for example, Heathrow Terminal 3 in this respect."

He added: “The knowledge of the three partners – GMR, Limak and Malaysia Airports - has been very important in creating this logical, integrated flow around the terminal, and it will greatly enhance our ability to drive commercial revenues.”

The new terminal, with an enclosed area of 180,000sq m, covers four storeys, with a wave-shaped roof. It will have capacity for 25 million passengers a year.
The terminal houses a 5,000sq m space for food & beverage outlets, and 4,500sq m of space for duty free, 3,300sq m in Departures and 1,200sq m in Arrivals. Setur Duty Free will operate the duty free business (as it does in the existing terminal) while food & beverage will be handled by airport-owned subsidiary LGM as well as a number of local concessionaires.
“Passengers will see brands such as Burger King and Gloria Jean’s Coffee, but also their favourite Turkish brands. It’s vital for us to target Turkish tastes as domestic passenger volumes have been rising faster than international numbers. We also plan to be watchful on F&B pricing – which has been the source of complaints against many airports in recent years – and we will benchmark carefully against downtown prices as well as other airports.”
The airport company plans to drive aggressively towards its 25 million capacity (SGIA handled 4.3 million passengers in 2008, with just over 6 million projected for 2009 –Ed) by attracting new airlines in the years ahead.

“Our major target in 2009/2010 is CIS and Russian airlines,” noted Aydin. “Those passengers stand at just 3% of our business today, but we would like that proportion to be 20%. We also want to be a bridge between east and west, and to connect Europe with the Middle East and Asia. With that in mind, transit traffic is becoming very important. Last year our transit numbers rose by +78% and that will be a factor in our continuing growth.”

We’ll feature more details on the forthcoming new terminal soon, with an extensive report on Turkey in our Digital Print Edition for September.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport doubles capacity with expanded Domestic Terminal; adds vital new facilities – 06/08/08

Published: 06/08/08
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt

TURKEY. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operation Inc (ISG), the consortium that operates Istanbul’s second airport, has doubled passenger capacity at its Domestic Terminal with the opening of an additional facility for arriving passengers.

The new 1,600sq m extension has been constructed west of the existing domestic building. It has a 260sq m passenger welcoming hall, 630sq m baggage reception hall, a café and rental car units. The existing Domestic Terminal is now allocated to departures. The two buildings have been linked through a connecting passage.

ISG, a consortium of GMR, Limak and Malaysia Airports, took over the operation of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport for 20 years on May 1 2008.
The company said: “ISG decided to enlarge the existing Domestic Terminal Building with an additional facility in order to handle air traffic and passenger volume. With the additional building, constructed in a surprisingly short period of 59 days, the existing Domestic A Terminal’s annual passenger capacity has been doubled.”

Meanwhile, work continues at pace on the new International Terminal, which has a scheduled opening date of 29 October 2009. As reported, Setur Duty Free will operate the retail facilities under a 20-year contract.
The new terminal will have 96 check–in points, 30 online check-in points, a total of 32 X–ray units and a two–storey VIP terminal. There will also be a four–storey car park and a 60-room hotel will be built next to the terminal for flight teams, transit and other passengers.

The Moodie Report Deputy Publisher Dermot Davitt visited Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport last month and the location will feature in the September Digital Print Edition of The Moodie Report, as part of a major survey of Turkey’s aviation and duty free business. The edition will focus on the key emerging markets of Turkey, Russia, India and China.

About ISG

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operation Inc. (ISG) is a partnership of Limak Holdings, one of the leading conglomerates in Turkey, GMR Infrastructure Limited and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

According to its agreement with the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, ISG has the 20-year operation rights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, including the management of the existing terminal buildings, cargo operations, the airport hotel, VIP & CIP facilities and aircraft refuelling facilities. The agreement also foresees the construction of the new international terminal building and its surroundings, bringing the yearly passenger capacity to 25 million.

Setur Duty Free plots ambitious future as Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen concession comes on stream – 24/07/08

Published: 23/07/08
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt in Istanbul

TURKEY. Setur Duty Free last week took over the 20-year duty free concession at Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport (as reported), a concession that will help “rejuvenate” the company’s fortunes, according to Setur General Manager Üstün Özbey.

Setur began trading on 10 July at Sabiha Gökcen, Istanbul’s second airport, which was taken over by a consortium including GMR, Limak and Malaysia Airport from 1 May.
As previously reported, Setur was awarded a 20-year exclusive contract for the duty free business, which will operate from 4,500sq m of space in a new terminal currently under construction. The new terminal is scheduled to open on 20 October 2009. Since last week the retailer is operating in around just under 400sq m of space, with two Departures shops and an Arrivals shop.

Speaking to The Moodie Report at the company’s offices in Istanbul, Özbey underlined Setur’s long history in Turkish duty free, and the opportunities for both airport and land border retailing that lie ahead.
“Setur was the leading operator in the Turkish market since 1965, until the airports’ privatisation programme began around 1998,” said Özbey. “But that business shrank as we lost the main concession at Istanbul Atatürk, Ankara, Izmir and Dalaman following the privatisation process.

"Now, over the past two years we have been making a comeback. In 2006 we won the exclusive rights to the duty free stores on the Turkish borders. Now, the contract at Sabiha Gökcen gives us entry to one of the region’s most important airports, and the fastest growing. In each of the past three years passenger traffic has risen by +60%, and there is a lot more potential, which we and our partners at the airport consortium intend to exploit.”

The 20-year contract was a major boost, he said. “We don’t want to get into short-term contracts,” said Özbey. “That was the way in the past. This way, it gives us the confidence to invest, and the airport has the security of being able to plan for the longer term. This will be a proper partnership. We will do our business plan together, we’ll market the location to airlines together, and we’ll plan the exact layout of the space together.”

On the borders, Setur last year opened new stores on the Iraqi and Syrian borders, with its new outlet at Kapikule on the Bulgarian frontier opening in February 2008. At the end of 2008 it will open its new store at Sarp on the Georgian frontier.

Setur also has a business at many of Turkey’s key ports, and operates the inflight retail programme for most of the country’s leading scheduled and charter carriers, including Turkish Airlines. The company also continues to operate specialist shops at most of the major airports in Turkey.

Setur is part of the Koc Group, one of Turkey’s largest companies, which operates in the automotive, energy, banking and electronics sectors, as well as tourism and duty free.

A full report on Setur’s business, and an interview with its senior management team, will appear in The Moodie Report Digital Print Edition for September, along with full profiles of the key airports and the country’s other duty free players.

Setur Duty Free captures 20-year contract at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport – 13/06/08

Published: 13/06/08
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Dermot Davitt

TURKEY. In a major coup leading Turkish duty free retailer Setur Duty Free, part of the Setur Service Turistik Group, has captured the 20-year duty free contract at Istanbul’s second airport, Sabiha Gökçen International.

Setur Duty Free confirmed the news to The Moodie Report, calling it a “major development” for the company.
In March this year GMR Group led a consortium to win a 20-year contract to develop Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SGIA). GMR controls 40% of the consortium along with partners Limak Insaat Sanayi San Ve Tic A.S Turkey (Limak – 40%) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB – 20%).

The consortium will operate the existing terminals at SGIA. It will also construct a new integrated domestic and international terminal capable of handling 10 million passengers per annum. The new terminal will house 4,500sq m of duty free space – 3,300sq m in Departures and 1,200sq m in Arrivals – said Setur. The existing international terminal building has 324sq m in Departures and 71sq m in Arrivals.

Setur, which operates duty free outlets at İstanbul Atatürk International Airport as well as various border checkpoints, plus ports and inflight shops, will make an infrastructure investment of €10 million in the stores. The product portfolio at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Duty Free, operated by Setur, will include wine and spirits, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, fashion accessories and electronics.
“We are glad to work with one of Turkey’s most distinguished business establishments,” said Yetik Mert, CEO of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operation, speaking at the signing of the agreement. “Setur is a leading company in duty free retail operations, with a service record of almost 50 years," he added. "I have every confidence that Setur’s service quality will help enhance the passenger experience at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen, and thus contribute to our efforts to become a leading airport not only in Turkey, but also at a global level.”

Setur Servis Turistik General Manager Üstün Özbey expressed his delight at winning the tender and the opportunity of a 20 year-long partnership with the consortium. He said that Setur’s experience of almost 50 years in duty free operations, combined with the vision of its new partner, would create a first-class environment for duty free shopping.

As we reported previously, the new terminal should be completed by 2009, a year ahead of schedule. Currently SGIA has a domestic terminal with a passenger capacity of 500,000 and an international terminal with a passenger capacity of 3 million annually.

At the end of the 20-year concession period, the airport is expected to handle around 35-40 million passengers and 700,000 tonnes of cargo per annum. SGIA is expected by then to have world-class infrastructure and facilities offering good connectivity to all parts of Turkey and overseas.

Sabiha Gökçen was launched as the second International Airport of Istanbul in 2001 after the existing Istanbul Atatürk Airport reached saturation point. Since its inception the airport has recorded a growth of 80% in passenger numbers.

About SGIA’s new terminal

The terminal and its facilities will provide a total covered area of 320,000sq m and will have 96 check–in counters, 30 online check-in counters, a total of 32 X–ray units and a two–storey VIP terminal. There will also be a three–storey car park with a capacity of about 5,350 vehicles (4,500 indoors and 850 outdoors). A hotel with 60 rooms, adjacent to the terminal, will be built for flight crews, transit passengers and others.

GMR/Limak/MAHB consortium set to complete new Istanbul terminal 12 months early; commercial revenues key – 05/05/08

Published: 05/05/08
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Martin Moodie

TURKEY. A consortium co-led by India’s powerful GMR Group has pledged to open the new terminal at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SGIA) in Istanbul a year ahead of its original opening date of October 2010.

The consortium – Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operations Inc (Sabiha Gökçen) – comprises Limak Insaat Sanayi San Ve Tic Turkey (40%), GMR Group (40%) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (20%).
The consortium was officially awarded its 20-year operating licence at a groundbreaking ceremony held on Saturday. The guest of honour, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asked the consortium to reduce the terminal completion time from the agreed 30 months to just 18 months.

"We cannot wait that long,” he said, adding that he wanted the terminal to be operational on 29 October 2009 – Turkey’s Republic Day.
The Chairman of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport Investment Development and Operations Inc, Nihat Özdemir, said that the rapid growth of the airport will be accelerated. He noted: “In parallel with our country’s strong growth performance of recent years, total passenger figures increased by an average of +14% annually in Turkey’s airports between 2000 and 2007. This increase has been about +13% in Istanbul in the same period, while Sabiha Gökçen managed an increase of six times in comparison with Turkey and Istanbul’s averages, and grew about +80%.

"These figures show Sabiha Gökçen’s potential. Our target is to continue Sabiha Gökçen’s fast growth with the help of the dynamism provided by Istanbul’s Anatolian side, the new attraction centre for the business world and construction sector and our investments. When we complete our new international terminal in 2010, in order to meet the increasing passenger capacity, we will be opening Istanbul’s airport of the future.”
GMR Group Chairman GM Rao pledged to open the terminal according to the new schedule. He said: “We would like to affirm to the people of Turkey that our involvement in the Sabiha Gokcen project is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long and mutually fruitful association for the GMR Group and your glorious country. We are very keen on partnering and nurturing Turkey’s journey of achieving economic growth by actively participating in its major infrastructure projects in the key areas of energy, airports, real estate and expressways.”

The consortium will carry out all aeronautical activities as well as managing the non-aeronautical and commercial businesses – including duty free shopping, food & beverage, a hotel, car parking and advertising. The new-look SGIA will offer world-class infrastructure and facilities offering good connectivity to all parts of Turkey.

Sabiha Gokcen was launched as Istanbul’s second international airport in 2001, after the existing Istanbul Atatürk Airport had reached saturation. Since its inception the new airport has recorded extraordinary passenger growth of +80%. Europe’s newest greenfield airport, it was also the region’s fastest growing in passenger terms between 2002 and 2007.
The consortium will add 10 million to the airport’s annual passenger capacity with the new terminal, bringing the total capacity to 15 million passengers.

Maximising commercial revenues will be vital for the Turkish–Indian–Malaysian consortium. Unlike the GMR-run airports in Delhi and Hyderabad, India, revenues for the consortium will come entirely from non-aeronautical sources. Aeronautical revenues will accrue to the Turkish government. GMR said: "The new international terminal will have cafes and restaurants, appealing to different food tastes, and also world-class duty free shops."
The consortium will generate its revenues from sectors such as retail, cargo, aviation fuel and passenger service fees. Duty free shopping will account for almost 25% of the airport’s revenues, GM Rao told reporters.

An average passenger spends about €12 at Sabiha Gokcen, compared to €3.5 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, he said. Such figures will rise significantly once the new terminal is completed, he said, as it will enjoy much greater retail space.

EDITOR’S NOTE: GMR was profiled, along with its Hyderabad and Delhi airport operations, in the ‘BRIC’ issue of The Moodie Report Digital Print Edition in September 2007.

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