Baku, September 18, AZERTAC
The fourth runway at Istanbul Airport and additional investments will make major contributions to the major air hub's global connectivity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, addressing the runway’s opening ceremony, according to Anadolu Agency.
Air passenger traffic across Türkiye in the first eight months of 2026 topped 167.5 million, nearly twice the country's population, he noted.
“In Istanbul alone, we have made a total of 2.12 trillion Turkish liras ($43.5 billion) in investments in transportation and infrastructure at current prices, including 604.4 billion Turkish liras ($12.4 billion) in air transport," Erdogan said.
Pointing to Türkiye's flight network, one of the world's most extensive, Erdogan said that in the last 24 years, under Justice and Development (AK) Party rule, the number of active airports more than doubled from 26 to 58.
"Together with our nation, we have made a Türkiye that is strong at home, influential in its region, and respected around the world into a reality," he added.