MAHB Targets Handling 41 Million Passengers At Istanbul Airport

From Mohd Shukri Ishak ISTANBUL, April 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the sole owner and operator of Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISGIA), is targeting a traffic of 41 million passengers yearly once the expansion project at the airport is completed. MAHB managing director Badlisham Ghazali said the expansion project costing 20 million Euros (US$22.6 million) was scheduled for completion in 2018. "At the moment, ISGIA handles 33 million passengers annually. The expansion project is in line with the call by the (Malaysian) government to government-linked companies (GLCs) to invest abroad," he told reporters here Wednesday. Earlier, he had given a briefing to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak who arrived here Wednesday for a working visit in conjunction with the 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Istanbul. After the briefing, Najib proceeded to officiate the new business class lounge at the airport. "With more than 15 years experience abroad, MAHB is utilising all its experience and expertise on the expansion of ISGIA," said Badlisham. Also present at the briefing were the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, Malaysian Ambassador to Turkey Amran Mohamed Zin and MAHB chairman Dr Wan Abdul Aziz Wan Abdullah. "With its strategic geographical position, ISGIA gives MAHB the advantage to attract the passenger markets of India, West Asia and Africa," added Badlisham. Meanwhile, MAHB in a statement said that ISGIA was fully acquired by MAHB in December 2014. "However, MAHB's early involvement in ISGIA begun in 2008 with its consortium partners when it was awarded the concession to operate the airport for 20 + 2 years. "ISGIA has been Europe’s fastest growing airport for the past seven years and in 2015 it continued to record strong double digit growth of 19.7% to 28.3 million passengers (Domestic: 23.7%; International: 12.8%)," MAHB said a statement. The robust growth in passenger movements had also brought about an increase to its aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue which grew by 14.6% to RM873 million, the statement said. -- BERNAMA