The new passenger terminal building at Istanbul New Airport is steadily progressing with 90% of the roof space-frame structure now installed.

At the beginning of January this year, the topping out ceremony for the baggage handling system was handed over to the CEO of IGA (the consortium that’s building the airport and will operate it during the concession term), Mr. Yusuf Akçayoğlu. The 42km luggage conveying system took a record 24 months to complete and the system will be able to carry 30,000 bags per hour with its smart equipment designed to reduce passenger waiting time.

The passenger terminal building’s departures level is continuing to progress, with various mock-up areas of the vaulted ceiling and check-in islands being installed. A circular 18 meter diameter opening is at the heart of the terminal building and is currently being constructed. The design allows light into the baggage reclaim level on the floor below, from the departures level above.

The roof space-frame structure of the main passenger terminal building has also now been installed with the largest column to column span being an impressive 54 metres. This allows for a column-free 36,000 sq m of duty free shopping and other retail spaces for a combined area approaching 53,000 sq m.

Once completed, Istanbul New Airport will house the world’s largest duty free shopping experience under a single roof. The duty free area will comprise of six themed sections; 6,500 sq m will be dedicated to luxury boutique stores and 3,000 sq m will be in the form of a traditional bazaar with traditional Turkish products. Information areas will cover 500 sq m, duty free shops will dominate the departures area at 15,000 sq m and activity and tasting stands will cover 6,000 sq m, while the arrivals stores will take up 12,500 sq m of the space.

 “This terminal is definitely the dawn of a new era in terms of passenger experience, setting the blueprint for future mega hub airports, whilst maintaining its sense of place but above all maintaining a human scale.” - Director Maurice Rosario

The new passenger terminal building is scheduled to complete in autumn 2018 with ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) likely to commence Spring 2019.