Once one of Europe’s most important and well-regarded airports, Atatürk Airport was completely shut down to make way for the new Istanbul Airport, located further outside the city. Many believe this decision has had serious negative consequences for Turkey’s economy and logistics reasons as it was considered to be easily reachable from all quarters of the mega city.
According to several opinions put forward by some experts, down below are some reasons for the demolition of the Atatürk Airport:
Eliminating Competition
- In 2018, the Turkish government (AKP) announced that Atatürk Airport would be closed after the opening of the new Istanbul Airport.
- Atatürk Airport had served 68 million passengers in 2018 and was among the busiest in the world.
- The closure eliminated competition for the new airport, giving it a monopoly on the European side of Istanbul.
- The relocation caused operational and financial problems for airlines, particularly low-cost carriers, due to higher fees and longer distances.
- Some airlines wanted to leave the new airport, but the government allegedly prevented them, benefiting the operating company İGA, which is said to be in close cooperation with the government.
Guaranteeing Revenue
- The new airport project was funded with government-backed passenger and revenue guarantees.
- The operating company İGA was promised a minimum level of income. If it fell short, the state (via DHMİ) would cover the difference.
- In 2020, due to the pandemic, only 23.4 million passengers used the airport (down from 52 million in 2019), triggering a significant government payout—estimated at around €230 million (~2 billion TL).
- Although these payments were postponed, they weren’t canceled, burdening future state budgets.
- These guarantees will increase annually, reaching nearly €690 million by 2030.
Alleged Motives Behind the Closure
- Atatürk’s Name – Politically motivated attempt to erase Atatürk’s legacy.
- Land Rents and Sales – The airport land is rumored to be sold to Qatari investors for profit.
- Favoring Private Interests – Ensuring revenue for the new airport and its politically connected operators by removing alternatives.
- Greenwashing via the “Nation’s Garden” – Presenting the demolition as a green space project to gain public favor and votes.
- Loss of a Valuable Asset – Destroying a historical and economically significant airport harmed national interests.
Source: Excerpt from article on TAMGATURK.com
Having shared all above, one needs to know Istanbul Airport ias also among the best in Europe (and even world) today and has been serving tens of millions of passengers with success.
… and last but not least, regarding the loss incurred due to the operation explained above we can share the following excerpt from media (Sözcü):
“The cost of the runways destroyed at Atatürk Airport, along with the values of the contracts awarded and the outcomes of various related operations, has resulted in an estimated public loss of approximately 22.5 billion Turkish Lira – at the time, certainly.”
