Turkish aviation: Trabzon airport project and Van passenger growth

In Ankara, Mesut İskenderoğlu, President of the MÜSİAD Trabzon Branch, met with senior management of the State Airports Authority (DHMİ) to discuss the transportation infrastructure and the proposed new airport project for Trabzon. The discussions focused on the current state of the existing airport and the necessity of the new project to support the region's tourism, trade, and international transport potential. While the importance of the investment was emphasized, no specific construction timeline or completion date was provided.

Separately, data released by DHMİ for the January-September 2026 period shows significant growth at Van Ferit Melen Airport. Passenger numbers at the airport reached 1,333,262, representing a 32.75% increase compared to the same period last year. During this timeframe, domestic passenger numbers rose by 32.48%, while international passenger numbers saw a 91.94% increase. Additionally, aircraft traffic at the airport grew by 20.05%, and cargo volume increased by 38.89%.