Ankara Airport opens ahead of NATO summit to host delegations

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially opened Ankara Airport on Monday, just weeks before the Turkish capital hosts the NATO leaders’ summit on July 7-8. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Erdogan said the new airport and its connection roads will provide direct access for visiting delegations. “With the 3-kilometer connection road in the divided-road section, we will provide direct access for delegations attending the NATO Summit,” he stated. The airport is Ankara’s second, complementing Esenboga Airport, and was completed in a record 230 days.

Infrastructure upgrades

The project included a 12.5-kilometer connection road and a 140-meter-long Baskent Aviation Bridge, which spans a high-speed train line. The runway was extended from 2,450 to 3,000 meters and widened from 42 to 60 meters. A new 160,000-square-meter apron allows 44 aircraft to park simultaneously. Lighting systems and guidance signs were modernized to international civil aviation standards. A state guesthouse with 4,800 square meters of indoor space and parking for 310 vehicles was also built. Erdogan noted that the airport is now prepared for wide-body aircraft and official flights.

Türkiye’s diplomatic role

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye is becoming a center of international diplomacy, noting that Ankara, Istanbul, and Antalya are increasingly hosting global events. He listed upcoming events including the Zero Waste Forum, the International Astronautical Congress, the Organization of Turkic States summit, and COP31. The NATO summit in Ankara will be a major test of the new airport’s capacity to handle world leaders and their delegations. For Türkiye, the airport is also a strategic asset for military and humanitarian missions.