Istanbul Airport is banking on its good geographical location and extensive, world-class facilities as it seeks to become a major regional logistics hub for transport of goods between Asia and Europe.
Turkey’s new flagship international airport, covering 76.5 million square meters – the biggest in the world – currently has several cargo airlines already operating there, including Turkish Cargo, MNG Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, Silk Way, Egypt Air Cargo, Atlas Air, Uzbekistan Airways and ASL Airlines (FedEx), just over a year since it first opened its doors.
Turkish Cargo and MNG Airlines are both operating from Ataturk Airport (the region’s former main airport) and the new Istanbul Airport at the same time, while other cargo airlines are only operating from Istanbul Airport.
Natural hub between Asia, Europe
“Turkey’s geographical location within a 3-hour flight from Europe, Middle East, Asia, northeastern Europe and its characteristic as a natural hub between the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas has been increasing the strategic importance of cargo and logistics operations at IST,” chief executive officer and general manager of İGA Airport Operation Inc., Kadri Samsunlu told Asia Cargo News.
“Besides its geographical location, high standards of security and efficiency services are also expected to be an important part of the economic growth of Istanbul and at the same time to become one of the most important air cargo and logistics centres for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia,” he added.
Before Covid-19, there were 110-120 monthly frequencies with full freighters and around 1,000 passenger flights per day at Istanbul Airport. The airport plans to open the third independent runway by June 18, which will increase the airport’s air traffic capacity from currently 80 landings and takeoffs to at least 120, and also improve the slot flexibility of airline companies.
The new airport handles 60% of Istanbul’s total cargo operation, while 40% of cargo continues to be based at Ataturk Airport.
Diversified, ‘world-class’ facilities
The new Istanbul Airport’s Cargo City offers a one-stop-shop for various needs of freight operators including cargo, logistics and temporary storage.
The airport chief told Asia Cargo News that Istanbul Airport’s Cargo City plan was prepared in line with necessities of the players in the cargo industry such as customs brokers, air cargo carriers, freight forwarders, ground handlers and cargo transportation companies, among others.
“Existing facilities fulfil all the needs of the entire sector such as bonded temporary storage facilities (for fast courier, cargo and mail-oriented companies), unbounded warehouses, customs brokers, and air cargo agencies building,” Samsunlu said. He added that there is also cold chain warehouse (9,000 m²) and live animal area (5,000 m²) in the facilities of each partner such as Turkish Airlines, UPS, Havaş and MNG.
Logistics giants UPS, DHL Express and FedEx also have a presence at the new airport. Samsunlu noted that UPS facilities are completed, DHL Express is under construction (and will be operational by the end of 2020) and the FedEx warehouse is still under project.
Cargo City covers an area of 1.4 million square meters. Capacity was 1.5 million tonnes in 2019 and will increase to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of 2020, and 5.5 million tonnes by 2028.
Asia-Europe connection
As it seeks to be a major regional hub for cargo to connect Asia and Europe, the new airport already serves 15 airlines operating in Asia with almost 50 different destinations. Samsunlu said that China, Japan and South Korea are the ‘fast-moving areas’ for Istanbul Airport with transfer and P2P traffic.
“Additionally, we do see increasing development in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Due to the geographical position of Istanbul Airport between east and west, transfer traffic is growing to Asia from Europe and Africa,” he added.
Samsunlu said for passenger flights, the entire European continent can be reached through narrowbody flights from Istanbul Airport, although there’s a “large demand” for widebody passenger flights to Europe due to both cargo and high-yield pax potential, he added.
“With widebody passenger flights to Europe and Africa, it allows us to grow full freighter potential when demand is tested through passenger flights. Our large network between Europe and Asia creates the biggest potential for manufacturers around to transport their goods between continents,” he said.
Post-coronavirus
Meanwhile, despite the turbulence brought by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak worldwide, IST expects the demand in the airport to bounce back once the pandemic is over.
“Before the coronavirus, Istanbul Airport provided transportation activities to more than 300 destinations in 120 countries,” Samsunlu told Asia Cargo News. He noted that the addition of long-haul flights with widebody aircraft and flights to over 200 destinations with narrowbody aircraft will contribute greatly to Turkey’s passenger and cargo potential.
“With the inclusion of transit passenger and cargo activities in all these operations, Istanbul Airport will start to become a very efficient connection point for Turkish Airlines, as well as cargo airlines and airport stakeholders.”
By Charlee C. Delavin
Asia Cargo News | Hong Kong
