'Great Move' begins to relocate Istanbul Airport
Posted April 05, 2019 7:00 am
ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkey's main international airport in Istanbul is closing and relocating to a new base in a massive logistical operation.
The relocation of Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"_began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday.
Bilal Eksi, CEO of flagship carrier Turkish Airlines, said 686 semi-trailer trucks and hundreds of other vehicles are moving equipment at night, and planes have started flying to the new airport.
The Istanbul Airport, one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's signature projects, opened partially in October and will serve 90 million passengers annually. It seeks to be the world's biggest when fully completed in 10 years.
Ataturk Airport, ranked the 17th busiest in the world in 2018, will cease commercial operations at 02:00 am local on Saturday (2300 GMT Friday).
With a poster of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey's founder, between flight information boards, people walk at Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. The Istanbul Airport -one of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mega projects- partially opened in October and will serve 90 million passengers annually. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Security personnel of Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, stand in front of the empty check-in counters, Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. Ataturk Airport, ranked 17th busiest in the world in 2018 according to preliminary statistics, will cease commercial operations at 02:00 am local Saturday (2300 GMT Friday.) (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Passengers at Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, sit near the empty check-in counters, Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. Ataturk Airport, ranked 17th busiest in the world in 2018 according to preliminary statistics, will cease commercial operations at 02:00 am local Saturday (2300 GMT Friday.) (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Turkish Airlines airplanes at Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. The Istanbul Airport - one of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mega projects- partially opened in October and will serve 90 million passengers annually. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
A Turkish Airlines airplane at Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. Ataturk Airport, ranked 17th busiest in the world in 2018 according to preliminary statistics, will cease commercial operations at 02:00 am local Saturday (2300 GMT Friday.) (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
Ground personnel of Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, pose for photos on Friday, April 5, 2019, ahead of its closure. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. Ataturk Airport, ranked 17th busiest in the world in 2018 according to preliminary statistics, will cease commercial operations at 02:00 am local Saturday (2300 GMT Friday.) (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
The Ataturk International Airport, in Istanbul, Friday, April 5, 2019. Turkey's main international airport in Istanbul is closing and relocating to its new home in a massive logistical operation. The relocation from Ataturk International Airport to Istanbul Airport on the Black Sea shores- dubbed the "Great Move"-began early Friday and is expected to end Saturday. The Istanbul Airport -one of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mega projects- partially opened in October and will serve 90 million passengers annually. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Associated Press
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