Liberia has made a proposal to Turkey for airport operation.

14.04.2025 09:01

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated that the African country of Liberia has made a proposal to Turkey for airport operation. Emphasizing that Turkey is open to this matter, Uraloğlu said, "We will send a team and provide support for its operation and expansion. Similar requests are coming in."

Liberia, wanting to benefit from Turkey's airport management experience, has made a collaboration proposal. The details of the proposal were announced by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, during a live broadcast on CNN Türk from Antalya Airport. Uraloğlu announced a new project regarding Istanbul Airport, stating, "Three planes can land and take off simultaneously at Istanbul Airport."

Minister Uraloğlu explained the project that will greatly contribute to transportation and tourism in the Mediterranean region. He announced that the travel time between Antalya and Alanya will be reduced to 1 hour. Uraloğlu stated, "We have started the construction of the Antalya-Alanya highway," noting that a faster and more efficient transportation network will significantly contribute to the region's economic and social life.

"OUR TARGET FOR ISTANBUL AIRPORT IS 200 MILLION PASSENGERS"

Uraloğlu continued his speech: There are very positive developments in tourism in Turkey. There are developments in the transportation sector. Antalya Airport, our tourism capital, is our destination. Last year, we closed with 39 million passengers, while the terminal capacity was 35 million. Domestic and international terminals needed to be built, and we constructed them. We increased the capacity from 35 million to 82 million. The capacity of Istanbul Airport is 90 million, and our target is 200 million, making it the second largest airport in terms of capacity. There is a ceremony density, and it will be used on Tuesday.

Let's measure ourselves; a few hours of flight distance, sometimes even more, to the USA, China, etc. That flight may not tire you, but we cannot tolerate the passport control, luggage waiting, check-in processes, etc., at your airport. If the environments at the airport are nice, we can spend enjoyable time. We do not want people to spend time here after 2-3-4 hours of travel if they do not wish to. We want them to go to their hotels, etc.

"WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY CAPACITY PROBLEMS FOR 30 YEARS"

We increased the capacity from 37,000 square meters to 75,000 square meters for domestic flights, and from 90,000 to 224,000 square meters for international flights. We built a state guesthouse. We hosted high-level guests from all over the world at the guesthouse. The VIP exit is there at the guesthouse. This is not just to relieve the indoor spaces; the recently built buildings are smart buildings, with automation and heat management. To ensure the quick entry and exit of incoming guests, we increased the vehicle park from 1960 to 7200.

Previously, 60,000 tankers were coming to the airport for fuel supply from the sea port; we eliminated tanker traffic at the airport with a 29 km pipeline. This is important in terms of security and exhaust emissions. This year, we expect Antalya to exceed 40 million. We predict it will exceed 45 million by the 2030s. I can say that we will not have any capacity problems for a period of 30 years. Last year, Antalya closed the season with 20 million tourists.

REQUEST FROM LIBERIA TO OPERATE AIRPORTS IN TURKEY

At last night's dinner, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia was at the same table. He wants us to operate the airports in his country. We provided the necessary contact information. We are definitely open to this. After the dinner, he went to our President and mentioned this issue. We will send a team to contribute to the operation and expansion. This was a situation that developed suddenly. Similar requests are coming in. They want Turkish Airlines flights.

Due to the Turkish contracting sector being among the largest 40 contractors in the world and having built significant structures recently, there is serious demand in the field of transportation and operation. Madagascar is saying please come. It is not just about making money there; you are also developing relationships.

AIR CAMPUSES

We call them air campuses. There will be campuses where free landings and takeoffs can be made. There will be campuses for private jets, training aircraft, and emergency response aircraft. We are considering around 9 locations. We are thinking of Antalya and Niğde in the first phase. It is one of the areas with a high risk of Mediterranean fires. During periods when we use a lot of aircraft, air traffic is affected. We think that if we establish alternative campuses, we will not affect the existing air traffic. We will take steps in this regard next year.

TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN ANTALYA AND ALANYA IS REDUCED TO 1 HOUR

Ercan Airport has a capacity of 10 million. There was no freedom due to sanctions. We just said that we do not want them to wait too long at the airport after arriving in Antalya. If going to Alanya, it takes 3-4 hours. We have started the construction of the Antalya-Alanya highway, and it will take 1 hour. We are converting the intersections with heavy traffic into overpasses while going from Kemer. We had completed the divided roads opening to the north. We had completed the Demirkapı Tunnel between Konya and Antalya. The road is still the only mode of transportation providing door-to-door access and is valuable. We continue to invest in it in a comprehensive sense.

"THREE PLANES WILL LAND AND TAKE OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY AT ISTANBUL AIRPORT"

Currently, around 110 different airlines are traveling to IGA from around the world. They do not go much outside the USA. They have their own domestic markets and do not go out much. Istanbul Airport has a capacity of 90 million, and we closed last year with 80 million. Our target is 200 million, and to achieve this, we need a lot of runways there. There is a runway in the north-south axis, and a runway is being built in the east-west axis, which will be completed. We will increase our runways to 5. Infrastructure investments are expensive, and we need to use them to the maximum. There are currently 3 runways at IGA, and two of them are allowing planes to land and take off simultaneously. Starting from April 17, we will provide a triple aircraft combination for the first time in the world after the USA. Three planes will be able to land and take off simultaneously.

They may say to direct from the tower of Atatürk Airport to let 3 planes come and land, but it is not easy. You will need to approach and land parallel to the 3 runways of IGA over the Marmara Sea and take off. This is very valuable.

Atatürk Airport performs 80 flights in winter and 130 in summer, both general and cargo aviation. It is still among the top 10 airports in Turkey. General aviation, cargo, and intensive aircraft maintenance activities will continue. We will implement the silicon valley in the terminal buildings we are conducting with the Ministry of Industry there.

ANKARA WILL BE MORE ACTIVE IN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

The new terminal of Sabiha Gökçen will not be ready by May. It will be postponed to autumn. More work has come out than we anticipated. We have achieved relief there by making arrangements at the existing airport. Discussions are ongoing with the current operator regarding the new terminal. It is thought that the tender will take place within 2 years after it starts. It is an airport operated by SSB. We will clarify it in May. The construction of a new terminal and investments may require a revision of the contract. We are in talks with the current operator.

One runway is not enough at Esenboğa; we have built a third runway. We will take some of them for maintenance. We built the tower so that the runways can be seen well; we will be able to finish it and hold the opening within this month. We want to make Ankara active in international flights.