• Airport employees are seen working in the arrivals hall. Getty Images
    Airport employees are seen working in the arrivals hall. Getty Images
  • The control tower. Getty Images
    The control tower. Getty Images
  • The main hall. Getty Images
    The main hall. Getty Images
  • The first phase of the new airport will reportedly handle 90 million passengers Getty Images
    The first phase of the new airport will reportedly handle 90 million passengers Getty Images
  • The first phase of the airport is due to open on October 29. Getty Images
    The first phase of the airport is due to open on October 29. Getty Images
  • Airport employees are seen working on the mosque being built in front of the main terminal. Getty Images
    Airport employees are seen working on the mosque being built in front of the main terminal. Getty Images
  • Flight information boards. Getty Images
    Flight information boards. Getty Images
  • The airport will cost $12bn. Getty Images
    The airport will cost $12bn. Getty Images
  • Airport employees clean chairs in the completed hall "B" section. Getty Images
    Airport employees clean chairs in the completed hall "B" section. Getty Images
  • An airport employee works to put finishing touches to the completed hall "B" section. Getty Images
    An airport employee works to put finishing touches to the completed hall "B" section. Getty Images

Inside Istanbul's giant $12 billion airport - in pictures

First phase of massive project due to open at the end of October, 2018

The National

October 18, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Billed as the world's largest, construction continues around the clock on Turkey's new $12 billion airport.

The official opening of the first phase - two runways and a terminal that can handle 90 million passengers a year - is due to take place on October 29.

Once all four phases of construction are completed, scheduled for 2025, the airport will service 100 airlines, flying to more than 350 destinations. It will have an estimated annual passenger capacity of 200 million making it the biggest air travel hub in Europe and one of the largest airports in the world.

Read more: Turkey's massive new Istanbul airport faces a rough take-off

EuropeTurkey