The final transportation operation of Turkish Airlines to Istanbul Airport is one of the greatest projects in Turkey’s history. Turkish Airlines has started its Great Move to Istanbul Airport, the biggest airport project of the world. The move is unique in global aviation history.
The operation will take a total of 45 hours and will be concluded on April 6 Saturday night at 23:59 local time. Istanbul Airport and Atatürk Airport will be closed for all passenger flights during a 12-hour time period between the final passenger flight of Turkish Airlines departing from Atatürk Airport to Singapore on Saturday 02:00 and the flight from Istanbul Airport to Ankara Esenboğa Airport on 14:00 the same day. Following that, Turkish Airlines’ flights from İstanbul Airport will be increased in stages according to a set plan.
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı said, “We are conducting the biggest transportation operation in aviation history. We are moving enough equipment to cover the equivalent of 33 football pitches. Our new home will soon welcome guests from all over the world with our unique Turkish Airways service concept.”
Freight for 5 thousand trucking rigs being moved
During the Great Move, equipment weighing approximately 47,300 tons will be carried to Istanbul Airport from Atatürk Airport. From aircraft towing apparatus weighing 44 tons to extremely sensitive materials, over 10 thousand pieces of equipment are being transported. The distance covered by the rigs carrying this load during the operation is calculated to be 400,000 kilometres. This is equal to circling the Earth 10 times. More than 1800 personnel are involved in the operation.
Airport Codes Are Changing
Since the opening stage, passenger flights of Turkish Airlines from Istanbul Airport were listed with the ISL code. After the Great Move, IATA codes will change and after April 6 at 03:00, Atatürk Airport’s IST code will be given to Istanbul Airport. Atatürk Airport, which will be hosting cargo and VIP passenger flights, will start using the ISL code.
About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 336 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 306 worldwide destinations as 257 international and 49 domestic, in 124 countries. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,800 daily flights to over 1,300 airports in 193 countries. Furthly flights to over 1,300 airports in 193 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines.
Comments