Istanbul’s new airport ‘to be center of luxurious shopping’

Gülse Birsel – ISTANBUL

There are a lot of rumors circulating around about Istanbul Airport which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated on Sep. 29, on the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.

It is designed to serve 150 million passengers annually.

Istanbul Airport may also serve as a new center for shopping with well-known brands, including Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

A special brand whiskey, produced only for the airport, will be sold there.

It is a gigantic structure which hosts both the domestic and international flight terminals under a single roof.

The airport offers a unique shopping experience blended with luxurious brands and modern retail concept.

The airport management formed a partnership with the world’s biggest Duty Free operator Heinemann and Unifree in an area of 55,000 square meters.

The shopping experience at the airport is not limited to the duty free area. High fashion brand Hermes and luxury retail company Louis Vuitton have stores to serve passengers at the airport which also has flashy VIP lounges.

There are also restaurants which will host famous chefs.

One interesting feature of the new airport is the products uniquely designed for the venue. For instance, the Scots will produce whiskey that will be sold only at the Istanbul Airport.

Rumors and facts

The new airport, the third in the megacity after the already serving Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports, has caused much controversy because of concerns about its impact on the environment, workers’ rights, strong wind in the area, and commuting issues.

In fact, the airport is not too far from the city center as widely claimed. A trip to the airport from the Nişantaşı neighborhood at rush hour takes 45 minutes.

The highway leading to the airport is nice but pretty desolate. There are no gas stations or shops to buy water or something to eat on the highway for 18 kilometers.

And the wind is strong in this area. However, officials from the Istanbul Grand Airport (İGA), which will operate the airport for 25 years, assured that the wind poses no threat to planes.

Necessary wind analysis was carried out and the wind factor taken into account when the airport was first designed and runways were constructed accordingly, İGA officials said.

The airport uses the state-of-art technology which allows passengers to check in more quickly.

The high-ceiling terminal buildings are spacious and impressive and the effective use of sun light and plants are also pleasing.