Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the third runway, completed at Ankara Esenboğa Airport, will be opened at the end of October. The fourth runway at Istanbul Airport is planned to enter service in 2026.
In his statement to Hürriyet columnist Fulya Soybaş, Minister Uraloğlu noted that the new runway and air traffic control tower works at Esenboğa Airport had been completed. “The electronically equipped works of the wind-shaped main entrance gate and the tower remain unfinished. We want everything to be ready before we open it. Most likely, we will hold the opening towards the end of October.” he said.
Fourth Runway Coming to Istanbul Airport
Uraloğlu stated that construction of the fourth runway at Istanbul Airport (IST), which will have a capacity of 120 million passengers, is ongoing. Recalling that simultaneous take-off and landing operations on three independent runways have been conducted at IST since April, the Minister said: “IST became the first airport in Europe to launch triple-runway operations, and the second in the world after the United States. Construction of the fourth runway, to be used exclusively for departures on the East-West axis, is continuing. We plan to open it to service in May 2026.”
According to ministry data, the Istanbul Airport project, realised with an investment of €10.5 billion, will provide €22 billion in rental income to the state during its 25-year operating period.
