AECOM says it has won a contract to design Istanbul New Airport, which is set to become the world’s largest aviation hub, with an annual capacity of 150 million passengers.
The airport is due to open in 2018, with the engineering design firm required to deliver its designs within one year.
AECOM will design all the airside works for the project including the three initial runways, taxiways, apron, associated drainage systems, airfield ground lighting and navigational aids. It will also deliver construction supervision services.
The works will cover an area of approximately 16 square kilometres and will be completed by specialist teams in the UK and Turkey.
“The demand for mega hub airports is growing, with the most successful cities investing in air travel to attract international trade. Straddling the East and West, this ambitious plan will see Istanbul quickly become one of the most connected cities in the world,” said Bernardo Gogna, senior vice president and director of global aviation at AECOM.
Deltaturk, a Turkish consultancy, will be AECOM’s delivery partner, while AECOM’s client IGA has won the concession to build the scheme as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor and operator.
“Istanbul New Airport is an important investment for the future of Turkey and is expected to contribute more than €32.4 billion + VAT to the Turkish economy during construction and in its first 25 years of operation, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs. With flights to more than 350 destinations, the airport will make Istanbul one of the leading global aviation hubs in the world,” said Yusuf Akçayoglu, chief executive officer of IGA Construction.
The airport will be Istanbul’s third and will have an initial capacity of 90 million passengers per year. Subsequent planned phases will expand the airport to include six runways and three terminal buildings. When all phases are complete, the airport will have an annual capacity in excess of 150 million passengers.
Istanbul New Airport will be located on the European side of the city, 35 kilometers from the centre on a site adjacent to the Black Sea.