Istanbul airport breaks another record

ISTANBUL

Istanbul's Atatürk Airport broke its air traffic record June 13 when a total of 1,294 planes took off and landed at the transportation hub, Orhan Birdal, General Director of State Airports (DHMİ), has announced on his Twitter account.

"Records continue at Atatürk Airport," Birdal said, stressing that some 142,000 passenger used the airport on the same day, thanking the personnel for "the problem-free service."

The latest peak of air traffic activity at Atatürk Airport was recorded on June 9, when 1,272 planes took off and landed, carrying some 138,000 passengers. 

The construction of Istanbul's third airport had begun on June 7 with a massive groundbreaking ceremony with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

As Atatürk Airport is streched to its capacity limits, the new facility under construction is touted as the world's largest.