Turkey is in the process of building, which will be the largest airport in the world and will be able to accommodate 200 million passengers when completed. The new Istanbul Airport was opened on a test basis last year in October. Ajay visited the new Istanbul airport to catch a sneak-peek just before the inauguration.
The new Istanbul airport Source: Istanbul airport
While Turkish Airlines, and other airlines, were supposed to shift from the current Istanbul Ataturk airport last year in December, it was delayed several times. Only a few domestic flights were shifted to the New Istanbul Airport for the purpose of the test. Finally early last month, Turkish Airlines confirmed the great move was finally going to be completed in April 2019.
The shift from Istanbul Ataturk airport to the new Istanbul Airport was scheduled between 02:00 AM and 10:00 AM on April 6, 2019. Several flights were affected and many were cancelled during the shifting period.
The airport codes are now changed, with the new Istanbul airport taking over IST code and Ataturk airport taking ISL code. Turkish Airlines even uploaded a tribute video showing some employees flying to the new Istanbul airport from Ataturk airport.
Turkish Airlines flew more than 100 aircraft from Ataturk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport. All the ground equipment and other equipment were transferred by road. As a sense of the volumes, equipment enough to cover 33 football fields was transferred.
New Turkish Airlines lounges are now open, and they are bigger than the ones at Ataturk airport.
Turkish Airlines Business class lounge Source: Turkish Airlines
Turkish airlines even uploaded a series of videos explaining different scenarios like, how to transit at the new airport, where is the airport located, how to reach the new airport and so-on.
Have a look at the massive food court.
Guess what, a National Geographic documentary will soon be released covering the largest move in the history of global civil aviation. All airlines have shifted including IndiGo.
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