Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is opening what he claims will eventually become the world's largest airport on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic. Tens of thousands of workers have been scrambling to finish the airport to meet Mr Erdogan's 29 October deadline. However, its launch on Monday is symbolic with only limited flights beginning days later and a full move expected at the end of the year. The project has been dogged by concerns about labour rights, environmental issues and Turkey's weakening economy with protests held in September over poor working conditions and dozens of construction deaths. Istanbul New Airport, on the shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. At its completion in ten years, it will occupy nearly 19,000 acres and serve up to 200 million travellers a year with six runways. That's almost double the traffic at world's biggest airport currently, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson. “This airport is going to be the most important hub between Asia and Europe,” Kadri Samsunlu, head of the 5-company consortium Istanbul Grand Airport, told reporters on Thursday. The airport's interiors nod to Turkish and Islamic designs and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower won the 2016 International Architecture Award. It also uses mobile applications and artificial intelligence for customers, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system. All aviation operations will move there at the end of December when Istanbul's main international airport, named after Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is closed down. Ataturk Airport now handles 64 million people a year. On the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen Airport handled 31 million passengers last year. It will remain open. Mr Erdogan is expected to announce the official name of the new airport, part of his plan to transform Turkey into a global player. Turkish Airlines will launch its first flights out of the new airport to three local destinations: Ankara, Antalya and Izmir. It will also fly to Baku and Ercan in northern Cyprus. Nihat Demir, head of a construction workers' union, said the rush to meet Mr Erdogan's deadline has been a major cause of the accidents and deaths at the site that employs 36,000 people. “The airport has become a cemetery,” he told The Associated Press, describing the pressure to finish as relentless and blaming long working hours for leading to “carelessness, accidents and deaths”. The Dev-Yapi-Is union has identified 37 worker deaths at the site and claimed more than 100 dead remain unidentified. Turkey's Ministry of Labour has denied media reports about hundreds of airport construction deaths, saying in February that 27 workers had died at the site due to “health problems and traffic accidents”. It has not commented since then. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire.<doc-sep>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to inaugurate the Istanbul New Airport, which he claims will eventually become the world's largest airport on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a Republic. Erdogan is expected to announce the official name of the air hub on October 29. (iGA) Istanbul New Airport, on the shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. Once it is completely functional, it is expected to serve up to 200 million travellers annually. Spread over 19,000 acres, the six runways will beat Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson in terms of traffic, which is currently the world's busiest airport. (iGA) The airport's interiors incorporate Turkish and Islamic designs, and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower was honoured with the 2016 International Architecture Award. It offers travellers services via mobile applications and artificial intelligence, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system. (iGA) All aviation operations will be moved to the new airport in December, when Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, named after Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, will be shut for commercial carriers. (iGA)<doc-sep>Departure times are already being displayed on flight information boards but not everything is ready for the launch of Turkey's new aviation hub called Istanbul Airport. A few steps away, much of the terminal is still a construction site. Kadri Samsunlu is satisfied though. The head of Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), the consortium in charge of constructing and operating the facility, outlines some key features of the megaproject. The first two runways (out of a total of six) are ready for use, as is the control tower, designed to look like a giant tulip. He says 225,000 jobs will be created directly and indirectly through the airport by 2025, and that the project as a whole will contribute 5 percent to Turkey's GDP. "This facility is being built with Turkish capital, Turkish workers, Turkish banks and Turkish know-how — and this is pumping our self-esteem higher. Really, when I see this place ... we did it! That makes me very proud." The groundbreaking ceremony for what is Istanbul's third airport took place in May 2015. In less than four years, Samsunlu and his team have apparently pulled off the colossal project to the north of Istanbul. Berlin can only dream of such things — 12 years after work started on the new airport for the German capital, there is still no reliable opening date. 200 million passengers per year In Istanbul the dimensions are gigantic. With a total area of 76 million square meters (818 square feet), the new Istanbul Airport is three times as big as Frankfurt Airport. It will immediately become the largest in Europe courtesy of an estimated 90 million passengers per year. And this is just the first of four planned expansion stages. In 10 years, up to 200 million passengers are expected to arrive and depart every year — more than anywhere else in the world. According to Samsunlu, €7.5 billion ($8.52 billion) has been spent so far. The new airport is a pet project of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a symbol of Turkey's supposed status as a global economic power. Erdogan wants Istanbul to be one of the most important air hubs connecting Europe with Asia and the Arab world. However, the Turkish economy is in crisis. The lira has plunged in value and inflation is soaring. Nonetheless, Erdogan insisted that the airport be ready for opening on October 29 — the 95th anniversary of the founding of the modern Turkish republic. The high price of prestige The success of the mega project has been far from absolute though. According to media reports, Turkish farmers had their lands taken from them for the purposes of construction while environmentalists have criticized the wholesale chopping down of huge forest areas. Then there are the workers, who in trying to put the airport up in record time, say they faced dire conditions: fatal accidents, low safety standards and issues over pay. Cemal Özder says construction workers at the airport were treated like slaves "They treated us like slaves," says Cemal Özder. He worked at the airport for nine months. "We often worked from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., and some say they had to go through the night and still work the morning shift the next day." Özder was fired when he publicly criticized the conditions, he says. He is currently involved with the Turkish trade union confederation DISK, which defends the rights of airport workers. Strikes, protests, deaths Since construction started in 2015, a total of around 35,000 workers have been on the job at one time or another. On-site safety and security was often inadequate says Özder. His union says that at least 38 workers have already died during the construction, while other sources report hundreds of deaths. The government and airport company admits to 30 victims. However, by mid-September, thousands of workers at the airport had gone on strike. According to the trade unionists, the trigger was a bus accident in which 17 workers were seriously injured. Eyewitnesses claim some were even killed in the accident. The protests were broken up and up to 400 workers were detained, according to reports. "Anyone who talks about the abuses is in danger of being jailed," says Özder. "This may be the largest airport in the world, but for me, the project is glued together with the blood of workers." Kadri Samsunlu says the construction workers at the airport are "happy" Samsunlu admits when pressed that there have been some problems during construction. But he says they have been fixed. "Workers demanded certain improvements for their needs. We took the necessary measures. I think we are providing a better service to them. And that's why from my perspective, the issue is under control and the workers are happy." Regular operation from 2019 The airport boss says he is looking ahead and not back, because despite the official opening, there is still a lot of work to do. The large-scale move from Atatürk Airport in the west of the city will take place at the end of the year and the airport will not operate a full schedule of flights until January 2019. Until then, there is just one operation taking place at the airport, totaling five connections per day. Read more: Opinion: A dark time for democracy in Turkey There is also no rail connection at the airport, something of an issue considering the new facility is 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the city center. A metro line is planned to be in operation from 2020.<doc-sep>
On Monday, Turkey is scheduled to open the “World’s Largest Airport” in Istanbul, dethroning Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, which had carried that title till now. The inauguration ceremony of the airport, which was located on the shores of the Black Sea, will be carried out on the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The big occasion will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT) and will be attended by dignitaries from 18 countries, including the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Iran, Macedonia, Moldova, Pakistan, Serbia, Sudan, Slovenia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the United Kingdom, Turkish Newspaper Yeni Şafak reported. The airport was built by five contractors — Limak, Kolin, Cengiz, Mapa and Kalyon — and was expected to generate an estimated annual revenue of 26 billion euros ($30.65 billion) for the Turkish government. “This airport is going to be the most important hub between Asia and Europe,” Kadri Samsunlu, head of the five-company consortium Istanbul Grand Airport, told reporters Thursday, the Independent reported. Photo: Getty Images/ Bulent Kilic Monday’s inauguration of the 76 million square meters (818 square feet) establishment will be a symbolic opening of the airport, with only a limited number of airplanes operating from there. Only the first phase of the airport has been completed so far, which will be partially operational till the end of the year, at which point, it will be fully functional. As 2018 draws to a close, the airport was expected to begin serving around 90 million passengers annually. In addition, around 2,000 planes, operated by over 250 carriers, will go through the airport on a daily basis to over 350 destinations. Once the remaining phases of the airport are completed by 2023, it will boast of six separate runways with a capacity of 500 aircraft. The massive establishment will be able to cater to around 200 million passengers annually and accommodate nearly 70,000 cars in its open and closed parking spaces. The Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which had been touted as the world’s biggest and busiest airport till date, is used to serving over 100 million passengers yearly, which is half of the capacity that Istanbul’s airport would eventually be able to serve after ten years. Istanbul’s new airport will also have a 53,000 square meter-long shopping complex — the world’s largest duty-free shopping center — which will consist of various sections, including luxury stores and bazaar-like marts. The first plane to takeoff from the airport will be a domestic flight to Turkey’s capital Ankara on Oct. 31. The next day, the first international flight will fly out from the airport to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Some of the other famously large airports of the world are Beijing Capital International Airport (the largest and busiest airport in Asia), Dubai International Airport, Tokyo International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, Wander Wisdom reported.