Disused Turkish airports reopened

Wednesday February 20th , 2008

Local authorities in Turkey are reopening defunct airports as a result of growing demand for air travel, a local media outlet has revealed.

Today's Zaman stated that work to reopen the airport in Sinop has already commenced, while more are set to begin resuming operations throughout the year.

Commenting on the move, Orhan Birdal of the State Airports Management General Directorate said that facilities in Usak, Balikesir and Tokat are also handling air traffic again.

This is a measure of how much interest in travelling to Turkey has gone up in recent years, as the country has recently become a hotspot for both holidaymakers and overseas property buyers.

Mr Birdal added that the number of air passengers in Turkey has doubled in the last four years, largely because flying has become highly affordable.

This comes after the Turkish Daily News quoted Gail Holden of British Midland Airways as saying that passenger numbers on flights to Turkey are likely to go up this year.

She added that the airline faces more competition in this country than in any other part of the world.