Dubai - UAE, 13th March 2019

The flag carrier airline Turkish Airlines is ready for the great change in Turkish aviation history. The great move to Istanbul Airport will begin on April 5 Friday night at 03:00. As the greatest airport project of the world, the first stage of the move towards Istanbul Airport was back on October 29th, 2018.

Unique in the global aviation history, the moving operation will take 45 hours in total and it will be concluded on April 6 Saturday night at 23:59. In order to conclude the Great Move successfully according to prior plans, Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport will be closed for all scheduled passenger flights between 02:00 and 14:00 of April 6.

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated the following about this enormous operation; “The biggest move of the aviation history will take place. The combined size of the equipment we are going to transfer would cover 33 football pitches. After this great move, which will be watched by the entire world, we will wake up to a new morning. It will be a morning, which the sun shining on Turkish Aviation with the flights operated at Istanbul Airport. I convey my hopes that it will bring a great fortune to both our country and company.”

The farewell flight from Atatürk Airport is determined as well

Hosting the rise of Turkey and Turkish Airlines in the global aviation field, the last flight carrying passengers from Ataturk Airport will be the Atatürk Airport – Singapore flight. After the move, operations will start in Istanbul Airport on April 6 at 14:00. The first flight after the Great Move will be the Istanbul Airport – Ankara Esenboğa Airport flight. The number of flights from Istanbul Airport will be increased in stages according to a set plan.

Freight worth of 5 thousand trucking rigs will be moved

During the Great Move, equipment weighing approximately 47,300 tons will be carried to Istanbul Airport from Atatürk Airport. From aircraft towing apparatus weighing 44 tons to extremely sensitive materials, over 10 thousand pieces of equipment are equal to freight of 5 thousand trucking rigs.  The distance covered by the trucking rigs carrying this load during 45 hours is calculated to be at 400 thousand kilometers. This is equal to circling Earth 10 times. Over 1800 personnel will be working during this great operation.

Airport Codes Are Changing

Since the first stage of the move in October 2018, passenger flights at Istanbul Airport used the code ISL. After the great move is completed the two airports will exchange codes starting April 6 at 03:00. The IST code, currently used at Ataturk Airport, will be given to Istanbul Airport, while Ataturk Airport will continue to host cargo and VIP flights using the code ISL.