Istanbul's new airport terminal slated to be world's largest

Portia Arthur

February 26, 2016 3:32 PM

Phase one, scheduled to open in 2018, will cover a whopping 11 million square feet, making it the world's single largest airline terminal under one roof, just ahead of Dubai's terminal 3, the current champ, which has Zen gardens and a swimming pool.

Istanbul New Airport

Istanbul is making a major push to become the world's biggest stopover hub, particularly for connecting flights between Europe and Asia.

The first step: build a brand-new airport, currently named Istanbul New Airport, that will be able to accommodate some 90 million fliers a year.

The terminal will also be home to the world's biggest duty-free shop, so those 90 million passengers will have plenty of cigarette and perfume options.

When the fourth and final phase of the project is completed in 2028, the airport will have six runways, with planes going to 350 destinations around the world.

So, how will Istanbul New Airport differ from the current Istanbul Ataturk Airport? This one will be about 22 miles outside of the city, with seamless connections to rail and bus terminals, plus a direct link to Istanbul's existing metro system. It's not clear if national carrier Turkish Airlines, which has the largest presence at Ataturk, will also have the same honor at New Airport.

Most importantly, the project is going on despite some concerns about Turkey's safety following a suicide bombing in Istanbul's tourist-heavy Sultanahmet Square earlier this year. But even travelers who are nervous about visiting Turkey might be amenable to switching planes there, given the grand plans. Meet you in the cognac aisle?

Source: http://www.cntraveler.com

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Portia Arthur