Turkey ready to unveil first artificial-island airport

Ordu-Giresun Airport has been built at sea off the shore of the northern province of Ordu.

Ordu Governor İrfan Balkanlıoğlu confirmed on May 5 that the airport would be opened on May 22 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

Around 35 million tons of rocks were used to fill in a 1.8 million square meter area of sea.

State-of-the-art technology is being used to prevent “wild” waves from the surrounding Black Sea damaging the airport, said Balkanlıoğlu.

“A special material named stone mastic asphalt was used to provide a comfortable departure and landing on the runway,” he added.

The construction of the artificial island, which has cost around 360 million Turkish liras ($132.6 million), started in July 2011.

The governor said the construction of Ordu-Giresun Airport at sea was “profitable” when compared to building on the mainland, which he claimed would have cost more than the eventual price tag.

He said passengers would be able to buy tickets to and from the airport as of May 26.