Vacationers cause car park overflow at Istanbul airport

ISTANBUL

Many cars are parked on the pavement or green areas around Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport due to overflow. DHA photo

Turkish vacationers, swarming to planes to get away for the nine-day long holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, have caused car park congestion at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport.

As most holidaymakers have chosen airborne transportation to visit their families or go for vacations, airports are struggling to meet the increased demand.

Due to the rising congestion at Atatürk Airport, located on European side of the city, many cars are parked on the pavement or green areas around the airport, as the airport’s own 10,000-car capacity car parks are fully occupied.

Holiday rush

Hundreds of people coming to the airport to pick up or drop off their relatives or friends are reportedly waiting around the airport, which also leads to traffic congestion.

The authorities have advised citizens to use public transportation while coming to the airport, in order to avoid the congestion. 

Many people have rushed to leave the city to benefit from a nine-day holiday that began on Oct. 12 and were also encouraged by the weather, which has seen temperatures above normal levels for the season.