Operations for a third runway at Turkey's Istanbul Airport are moving at full pace, according to airport officials.
Once the third runway becomes operational, Istanbul Airport will have five operational runways combining three independent runways and two backup runways.
The new runway will see air traffic capacity increase from 80 landings/take-offs to 120 per hour and airway slot flexibility will improve.
IGA airport operation chief executive officer and general manager H. Kadri Samsunlu said: “Istanbul Airport, which got constructed in record time as the worlds’ biggest airport, is among the most important projects of Turkey.
"Our operations continue in full force after an unprecedented, successful and nigh-flawless, massive relocation. There’s no other airport in the world with these characteristics of construction or relocation. We are also proud of this success. We welcomed about 17.5 million passengers since April 6. We did everything within our reach to create such an airport that will give our passengers every kind of comfort in the easiest possible way in such a big structure.
"We intend to bring into service our three independent runways, within the first six months of the next year. With the time efficiency and comfort the completion of the three still-under-construction runways will provide, we will carry our quality of service assertion to the top. Istanbul Airport is the most important economic asset of our country. It will be a driving force behind our country’s development.”