Antalya Airport Could Overtake Istanbul: About 10 Million International Passengers Expected in 2002

3.05.2002, 12:41

FRANKFURT 03.05.2002 (PROTEXT) - The tourist season on theTurkish Riviera is off to a good start, with passenger figuresfor the showcase airport in the Antalya region developing aboveplan. The new terminal - in which Fraport AG Frankfurt AirportServices Worldwide acquired a 50-percent share in autumn 1999 -is expected to reach about 10 million international passengersin 2002, for the first time.

Antalya Airport (airport code = AYT) served 4.2 millioninternational passengers in 1999. In 2000, traffic jumped to 6.6million passengers. This previous record was exceeded in 2001when Antalya Airport welcomed 8.7 million internationalpassengers. Istanbul Airport which Antalya Airport will likelyovertake this year, recorded only 100,000 more passengers in2001. Fraport AG's Andreas Stark, who is one of the two generalmanagers of the Antalya international terminal and who isresponsible for finance, also expects Antalya Airport to jointhe league of the world's Top 100 largest airports.

Fraport AG and its Turkish partner Bayindir Group have theconcession for the Antalya terminal until 2007. By that time, asecond runway (now under construction) will have been inoperation for some years and traffic could grow to 15 millionpassengers per year. Inaugurated in 1998, the Antalyainternational terminal will begin to reach its capacity limits by2007.

Thus, a second terminal linked to the existing internationalterminal is already being considered. The Fraport/Bayindircompany that ensures smooth running operations of Antalya'sinternational terminal therefore has excellent references forthis new terminal project. A second terminal will greatly enhancetourism in the entire Antalya region.

For more information about travel and tourism in Turkey,visit the Internet at: "www.tourism.gov.tr" in English, Germanand Turkish. The Turkish National Tourist Office in Germany(Staatliches Türkisches Fremdenverkehrsamt) is based inFrankfurt at: Baseler Strasse 35, 60329 Frankfurt; Tel.: +49 69233081;

Fax: +49 69 232751. ots Original Text Service: Fraport AG Internet:http://www.presseportal.de For More Information, Please Contact: Fraport AG FrankfurtAirport Services Worldwide Attn: Robert A. Payne - ManagerInternational Press 60547 Frankfurt am Main, Germany Tel.: +49 69690 -78547 Fax: +49 69 690 -60548 E-Mail: r.payne@fraport.deInternet: www.fraport.de (cllick on "Press Lounge")

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