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“The Great Move” is largely concluded

By Wei Zhang
2 min read
Turkish Airlines Photo 1
Turkish Airlines Photo 1
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Turkish Airline’s transition to its new home, Istanbul Airport, is largely concluded with progress at 96 percent. With the “Great Move” representing one of the most significant cornerstones of the Turkish Aviation history, Turkish Airlines has nearly concluded its gradual move to Istanbul Airport, which started following the official opening on 29th October last year. The moving operation, which started on 5th April, Friday, at 3:00, had reached 96 percent completion 12 hours earlier than the projected 45-hour plan. It concluded on 6th April, Saturday, at 20:00, and the flag carrier airline has already begun a new era at its new home, Istanbul Airport, which will be the new center of the global aviation sector.

Commenting on the “Great Move” process, which included saying farewell to Atatürk Airport – home to Turkish Airlines throughout its 86 years of history, and moving to its new home base, Istanbul Airport, also known as “Monument of Victory”, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı said: “Currently the biggest airport project in the world, this enormous facility will be the home of the resounding local and global growth of Turkish Airlines in the future while becoming the most important driving force behind our growth with its state of the art physical capabilities and capacity.”

“Successfully concluding its mission of being the home of our brand throughout our 86 years of history, saying farewell to Atatürk Airport was a highly saddening experience for us. However, our brand’s unstoppable growth and progress especially over the last 15 years forced us to make this decision to part ways. As Turkish Airlines became unable to fit its mold with its efficient growth performance, the need for a new home that will support its development and open its way with capacity and other physical capabilities was born. Starting with the originator of the idea for this monumental project and its biggest supporter, our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, IGA consortium, our various business partners, every single member of our family and everyone else who offered their toil and support, we are grateful to all of those for bringing us this bundle of opportunities, which will allow us to carry the passenger and flight experience into a whole new platform. In addition to this, I would like to also express my great pleasure and honor in announcing that the future of the global aviation will develop with Turkish Airlines at its center with our new home, and new face of our brand.”

However, our brand’s unstoppable growth and progress especially over the last 15 years forced us to make this decision to part ways.

Questions & Answers

Q.

When did the moving operation to Istanbul Airport officially begin and conclude for Turkish Airlines?

A.

The moving operation started at 03:00 on Friday, 5th April, and concluded at 20:00 on Saturday, 6th April. This marked the airline's transition to its new home, Istanbul Airport.

Q.

How quickly did Turkish Airlines complete its move to Istanbul Airport compared to the initial projection?

A.

The move reached 96 percent completion 12 hours ahead of the projected 45-hour plan. This efficient operation allowed Turkish Airlines to conclude its transition to Istanbul Airport quickly.

Q.

What was the primary reason Turkish Airlines decided to move from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport?

A.

The airline's significant growth over the past 15 years meant it outgrew Atatürk Airport's capacity. A new home with enhanced physical capabilities and capacity was needed to support its continued development.

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