Istanbul: The fourth runway at Istanbul Airport and additional investments will contribute significantly to the major air hub's global connectivity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced during the runway's opening ceremony. Air passenger traffic across the country in the first eight months of 2026 reached 167.5 million, nearly double the population of Trkiye, Erdogan noted.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Erdogan highlighted the extensive investments in Istanbul's transportation and infrastructure, amounting to 2.12 trillion Turkish liras ($43.5 billion) at current prices, including 604.4 billion Turkish liras ($12.4 billion) specifically in air transport. He emphasized the expansion of Trkiye's flight network, which has become one of the world's most extensive. Over the last 24 years, under the Justice and Development (AK) Party's rule, the number of active airports in the country has more than doubled from 26 to 58.
Erdogan expressed pride in creating a Trkiye that is strong domestically, influential regionally, and respected globally. He affirmed the country's commitment to keeping Istanbul Airport at the forefront of global aviation. The airport set a new record on August 30 with 1,787 flights, the highest daily figure recorded in both Trkiye and Europe. Erdogan addressed past skepticism about the airport's capabilities, noting the significant air traffic achieved in one day.
Furthermore, Erdogan inaugurated the airport's first east-west concrete runway. The 890 million Turkish lira ($1.05 billion) runway measures 2,820 meters (9,251 feet) in length and 45 meters (147 feet) in width, increasing the total number of runways to six, including four main runways.
In terms of economic impact, Erdogan described Istanbul Airport as a substantial on-site economy. He projected that airport-linked activities will employ 472,000 people and generate $44 billion in revenue by 2030. Since 2002, Trkiye has expanded its air transport agreements from 81 countries to 175, and its international flight network has grown from 60 destinations in 50 countries to 356 destinations across 133 countries.