Istanbul’s third airport to be completed on time: Minister

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The construction of Istanbul’s third airport will be complete on time, Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan said on April 3. 

“Any [financial] bottleneck is out of question in the project. The project will be completed on time,” Arslan told state-run Anadolu Agency.

His remarks came after media reports about possible financial difficulties emerging in the project, which is hailed as “the biggest airport project in the world.”

Arslan said the “contractor was continuing its investment in accordance with the approved work program,” adding that “around 85 percent” of the airport construction has been completed so far.

The official opening of the first phase of the new airport is planned to take place on Oct. 29, the day Turkey marks its Republic Day.

When it is completed, the new airport will assume most of the passenger traffic from Atatürk International Airport, hosting 250 airlines flying to more than 350 destinations, making it one of the world’s largest transport hubs.