15.06.2026 14:50
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made important statements at the Ankara Airport and Connecting Roads Opening Ceremony. Emphasizing that 2026 is a 'year of peaks' for Turkey in every field, Erdogan announced that with the new project, wide-body aircraft will be able to land on the runway and that a first in Turkey has been achieved with the aviation bridge built on the high-speed train line.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the opening ceremony of Ankara Airport and its connecting roads, which will provide a major relief to the capital's traffic and international air transportation. Addressing cabinet members, civil aviation representatives, and young people at the ceremony, Erdogan sent greetings to Ankara's 25 districts and expressed his hope that the project would be beneficial for Turkey and the aviation sector.
"2026 CONTINUES AS A YEAR OF PEAKS FOR TURKEY"
Starting his speech by thanking the ministries, institutions, workers, and architects involved in the project, President Erdogan highlighted the vision of the Turkish Century. Erdogan stated, "2026 continues as a year of peaks for Turkey, which aims for the top in every field. We are working diligently to make the most of this important year. On the path to the Turkish Century, we do not allow anyone to hinder us from our goals."
THE HEART OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY BEATS IN ANKARA
Noting that Turkey's power on the international stage is reflected in the diplomatic traffic in Ankara, Erdogan addressed the growing importance of the capital with the following words:
"This is evident not only in the international events it will host but also in the visits of foreign delegations to Turkey. As Turkey's global importance increases, the circulation of foreign delegations visiting Ankara rises. Turkey, at the heart of 66 countries, has now become the beating heart of international diplomacy. When you add Ankara's growing population and developing industry, the value of every investment becomes clear."
RUNWAY EXTENDED, MADE READY FOR WIDE-BODY AIRCRAFT
Reminding that Esenboga Airport, which served 3 million passengers annually 20 years ago, now hosts 15 million passengers per year, Erdogan shared technical details of the new airport project:
"With the opening of Ankara Airport, there will be relief in both air and road traffic. We not only brought a new project to our capital but also revived this area, which was a center of military aviation for many years. This two-phase project was successfully completed in 8 months. We increased the runway length from 2,450 meters to 3,000 meters, and its area from 42,000 square meters to 60,000 square meters. With all these efforts, we have made Ankara Airport ready for wide-body aircraft and official flights."
A FIRST IN TURKEY: AVIATION BRIDGE OVER THE HIGH-SPEED TRAIN LINE
Erdogan stated that another important investment inaugurated was the 'Capital Aviation Bridge and Connecting Roads,' noting that the project was built over the High-Speed Train (YHT) line, a first in Turkey. Emphasizing that the bridge will enable direct transportation for delegations attending the NATO summit, Erdogan highlighted that the structure was completed in a record time of 230 days.
"I SAY TO THOSE WHO THROWING MUD AT OUR WORKS IS A SKILL..."
At the end of his speech, President Erdogan made indirect references to the opposition and concluded his remarks as follows:
"To those who think throwing mud at every work and criticizing every project is a skill, I say this: We have worked for Turkey for 23 years, and we have presented works you could never even dream of to the service of our citizens. We thought not of ourselves but of the future of our cities. From now on, we will continue to work and invest for Turkey. Remember, we will continue to serve all 86 million citizens without discrimination, with the understanding that 'those who serve will find honor.'"