Company signs accord to operate İzmir airport

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

TAV executives and Transport Minister Binali Yıldırım (C) pose during a ceremony in Izmir. The Aegean city is a brand name for Turkey, says Yıldırım. Company photo

Local airport operator TAV has undertaken the management of the İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport in the Aegean province after winning a 610 million euros tender, according to a press release by the company.

TAV will also invest 250 million euros in developing the domestic terminal at the airport, a project expected to be completed by the first half of 2014.

“With this investment Adnan Menderes Airport will be able to service 25 million passengers. This project is an investment in İzmir’s future,” said Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım who attended the signing ceremony yesterday.

The minister said the new airport would be a necessity when keeping in mind İzmir’s bid for Expo 2020, just one of 35 planned İzmir projects.

“İzmir will continue to be Turkey’s brand city,” he added.

Turkey’s Airport Authority (DHMİ) head Orhan Birdal said the total number of passengers for both İzmir’s international and domestic terminals was 528,000 in 1987. In 2002 the number increased to 960,000 and in 2010 the number of passengers exceeded 5 million.