As SAW waits for 2nd runway to be completed, operator to open 3rd runway at new airport

While the second runway at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) has not been completed for months, it is reported that the companies that do the runway work and also operate the Istanbul Airport are preparing to open the third runway at Istanbul airport.

It has been circulated in the media that Runway 3 at Istanbul airport will be opened on June 18. Aircraft taxi times will be reduced when Runway 3 becomes operational, according to controllers managing air traffic who have received approach simulator training for the runway in France.

On the other hand it is observed that the second runway at Sabiha Gökçen Airport has not been completed for months which experts find inappropriate as the companies that are supposed to do the runway work and operate the Istanbul Airport are the same and SAW meanwhile has been experiencing some serious problems. As will be recalled after the accident at SAW recently, there were discussions on the agenda in regarding the delayed completion of the second runway at said airport.

Professionals in the sector comment that the consortium including Cengiz İnşaat and Kalyon Holding which accomplished construction the world’s largest airport in 42 months only, has not been able to complete a second runway for SAW airport in a period of 42 months. Just to remind again, said group also operates the new Istanbul Airport which makes one think whether a “conflict of interest” situation could be in question.