Istanbul Airport is a massive aviation hub built on the site of old coal mines.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 7,600 hectares of former forest and industrial land, Istanbul Airport is a titan of modern infrastructure. It serves as a primary gateway between continents, handling over 84 million passengers in 2025. Yet, its rapid rise from a construction site to a global transit leader remains a subject of intense scrutiny.

The decision to construct Istanbul Airport was driven by the physical limitations of the city's previous primary hub, Atatürk Airport. Hemmed in by urban development and the Sea of Marmara, Atatürk could no longer expand to meet surging demand. Planners selected a site north of central Istanbul, near Lake Terkos, encompassing 7,600 hectares of land that included old open-pit coal mines. This massive project, estimated to cost €22 billion, was designed to be completed in four distinct phases to eventually accommodate 200 million passengers annually.

The construction process was marked by significant controversy. Environmental concerns were raised early, with the Turkish Chamber of Environmental Engineers challenging the project's impact assessment in court. Furthermore, the site became the subject of grim allegations regarding worker safety. While the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security officially reported 27 fatalities during construction, unofficial estimates and investigative reports from publications like Construction News suggested the death toll could exceed 400, leading some workers to nickname the site the cemetery.

Despite these challenges, the airport officially opened on 29 October 2018, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The full transfer of commercial flights from Atatürk Airport was a logistical feat, involving the movement of over 10,000 pieces of equipment in just 41 hours. Today, the facility is a sprawling complex featuring a tulip-shaped control tower, five runways, and an extensive security network utilizing 9,000 CCTV cameras. It remains a critical hub for Turkish Airlines, connecting travelers to 122 countries.

Looking ahead, the airport's development continues. Once fully completed by 2027, the facility is expected to feature eight runways and four terminal buildings. While it has become an essential engine for global travel, it also faces modern challenges, including its environmental footprint; Climate Trace estimated the airport emitted 9.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, ranking it as the second-largest greenhouse gas emitter in Turkey.

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