TURKEY: Erdogan inaugurates Istanbul Airport, one of world’s largest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a massive new airport project in Istanbul, which, once complete, is expected to become one of the world’s largest. More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries on Monday attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local […]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has inaugurated a massive new airport project in Istanbul, which, once complete, is expected to become one of the world’s largest.

More than 50 foreign dignitaries from at least 18 countries on Monday attended the lavish opening ceremony of the first phase of the new facility, called Istanbul Airport, local media reported.

“Istanbul is a beautiful jewel between two seas … that’s why we called [the airport] Istanbul,” Erdogan said at the ceremony which coincided with the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.

“We see Istanbul Airport as investment not only in our country but also in our region and the world,” he added.

It is expected that a daily 2,000 aircraft from more than 250 carriers will go through the airport by the end of 2018 to over 350 destinations, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.