# Taranto-Grottaglie Airport logistics development > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/taranto-grottaglie-airport-logistics-development > Updated: 2026-10-03T08:46:15.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 2. The Puglia Regional Council approved a strategic project to develop the agrifood logistics sector at Taranto-Grottaglie Airport. The initiative focused on establishing a commercial cargo route to Istanbul to serve as a logistics hub for Southern Italian businesses, particularly for the rapid transport of fresh produce. While the plan included exploring potential passenger flights, it also faced political debate regarding infrastructure costs and potential duplication of services with Brindisi Airport. Following the approval, the airport successfully launched its first cargo flight to Istanbul through a collaboration between Poste Air Cargo and Turkish Cargo. Utilizing a Boeing 737F, the service aims to connect Puglian companies to a global network of over 300 destinations via the Istanbul hub. Regional President Antonio Decaro stated the investment is intended to support local productive realities by reducing costs and transit times for international shipments. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-03: Taranto-Grottaglie Airport launches first cargo flight to Istanbul The Taranto-Grottaglie Airport launched its first cargo flight to Istanbul, connecting Puglian agrifood businesses to over 300 international destinations via a Poste Air Cargo and Turkish Cargo partnership. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/taranto-grottaglie-airport-launches-first-cargo-flight-to-istanbul ### 2026-09-18: Grottaglie Airport to launch cargo route to Istanbul and explore passenger flights Puglia has approved a cargo logistics project for Grottaglie Airport, featuring a new route to Istanbul, while debating the potential introduction of commercial passenger flights. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/puglia-approves-air-cargo-project-at-taranto-grottaglie-airport --- Cite as: Taranto-Grottaglie Airport logistics development. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/taranto-grottaglie-airport-logistics-development