Istanbul Ataturk Airport used to be one of the busiest on the planet. Each year, about 70 million people passed through it. On Friday, that airport closed to commercial flights. Now, there’s another airport in town. And the new Istanbul Airport will be the largest in the world!
The new airport opened last October. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was there. The travel hub is part of his plan to make Turkey a more powerful nation. But the leader said the airport will be good for all. “We did not build the Istanbul Airport for our country,” Erdogan explained. “It is a service we are offering to the world.”
It took some time before the airport was ready to take over Ataturk Airport’s flights. But now the skies above it are full of planes. Many of those high-fliers belong to Turkish Airlines. That company flies to at least 120 countries, more than any other airline. And it carries millions of passengers each year.
Turkish Airlines moved to the new airport over the weekend. It had just a couple of days to move 10,000 pieces of equipment! Those included planes, ground vehicles, and machines for security. Workers had to take the supplies about 18 miles (30 km) north. People called this crazy move “the Big Bang!”
Istanbul Airport is going to get bigger in the future. There are four phases to the project. Only the first one is done. When the airport is finished, it will be able to serve 200 million passengers per year. That’s a lot more than the current busiest airport. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia handled 107 million travelers in 2018!
The new airport will have six runways and four terminals. Inside, visitors can buy goods at the many shops. There are plenty of windows and seating areas. Travelers may also spot the new air traffic control tower. This tall building is shaped like a tulip, a famous flower in Turkey.
Not everyone supports the new airport. Some say the space is a waste of money and materials. Still, President Erdogan is excited about what the airport means for the city. He called Istanbul “a beautiful jewel.” And he hopes the airport will make that jewel shine.
Updated April 9, 2019, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Ashley Morgan
