Istanbul Airport's Fourth Runway Nears Operational Milestone: A New Era for Turkey's Aviation Economy

The final stages of work on Istanbul Airport’s fourth main runway are poised to open a new chapter for Turkey’s aviation sector and international trade.

Operational Target and Timeline

■The fourth main runway is slated to begin operations by the end of the year after completing technical tests.

■Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu confirmed that the project is 90 % complete and that critical infrastructure tests are in their final phase.

Investor and Commercial Impacts

■The aviation sector’s production capacity is expected to rise by 15 %.

■Two new runways are projected to increase international passenger flow by 30 % and boost cargo handling capacity.

■High‑volume cargo traffic is anticipated to grow by 25 %.

Infrastructure and Economic Components

■With the opening of the fourth runway, Istanbul Airport will increase its annual $5 billion cargo capacity.

■The project, costing $2 billion, supports an additional $20 million in job creation across Turkey.

■Maintenance, fuel, and logistics firms are expected to see revenue growth of 12 %.

Fatih Kılıç: Expanding airport infrastructure accelerates Turkey’s alignment with World Trade Organization goals, providing a competitive edge in the weight‑lifting and cargo markets. The operationalization of the fourth runway will transform Istanbul Airport into a stronger hub for international carriers, creating a synergistic boost to regional economic growth.