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| Turkey’s Zafer Airport opens 18 months ahead of contract Zafer Airport, Turkey's newest international airport was formally opened by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 25 November. Mott MacDonald acted as technical advisor on the project – the seventh Turkish airport the consultancy has worked on – for lender UniCredit Bank, providing traffic forecasting, commercial, aviation engineering and environmental services. Turkish developer IC Ictas began construction in May 2011 and completed construction and commissioning 18 months ahead of contract and six months ahead of their own programme. The new airport has a Cat II code 4E 3,000m x 60m runway and a 20,000 sq m terminal building, providing a capacity of over 1.5 million passengers per annum. It is the latest Turkish airport to be delivered through the General Directorate of State Airports Authority public private partnership concession model and the first greenfield international airport developed as part of this scheme. The project finance facilities have 18 years tenure which is the current maximum allowed for Turkish infrastructure assets. Positioned in Western Anatolia region of Turkey, Zafer airport is strategically placed to provide a development catalyst for this heartland area of Turkey as well as providing better access for nearly 0.5 million Turks from this region living overseas. The region has top quality thermal tourism facilities as well as cultural heritage dating back over 3,000 years. The region also supports the country's leading producers of fine porcelain, carpets, marble and Turkish delight. The airport was developed in full compliance with International Finance Corporation social and environmental standards, essential given the rural nature of the site. Scheduled flights have already commenced by Turkish Airlines to Istanbul Atatürk, with more routes opening before the end of the year. write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Construction News :: home page |