JETEX-İGA General Aviation Terminal, realized in collaboration with İGA and JETEX, a Dubai-based global company providing private aviation and flight support services internationally, was opened with a ceremony today.
The terminal, whose aim is to provide passengers of international commercial flights with a travel experience focused on speed, comfort and privileges, combining Turkish hospitality and international standards under one roof, is defined as a strategic investment that will contribute to Türkiye's “brand value”.
At the opening of the terminal, which is expected to further strengthen Istanbul's role in the international aviation ecosystem by taking the travel experience to the next level, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu stated that with this opening they have created a completely new and very meaningful connection to the vision of Turkish aviation and that with this strategic investment they have crowned the country's leading position in the global aviation ecosystem in the field of private aviation.
Expressing that airports now function as the heart of the modern world, Uraloğlu stated that Türkiye is located at the intersection of Asia, Europe and Africa and has a unique location that allows access to 67 countries with 1.5 billion people within a 4-hour flight distance.
Stating that Türkiye is extremely suitable to become one of the world's leading aviation transit centers due to its advantageous geographical location, Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that they have made Türkiye the world's shining star in aviation with the bold and visionary policies they have implemented over the past 24 years under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Pointing out that the number of active airports increased from 26 to 58, Uraloğlu said that it will soon increase this number to 60 as Yozgat and Bayburt-Gümüşhane airports are under construction.
Uraloğlu said: “While the number of passengers on domestic and international routes was about 34.5 million in 2002, it increased to 247 million in transit in 2025, breaking a new record in the history of our republic. With this success, we ranked third in Europe and seventh in the world. Our Istanbul Airport alone served about 84.5 million passengers in 2025 and accommodated a passenger number equal to the population of Turkey comes close.” he said.
“We expect to carry around 270 million passengers this year.”
Stating that Istanbul Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in Europe and has become a leading cargo transportation company, is Türkiye's showpiece on the world stage, Minister Uraloğlu continued as follows:
“We expect that the number of passengers (by air) will increase even further this year, that we will carry around 270 million passengers through Turkey and that we will exceed the 90 million passenger mark at Istanbul Airport. In the first three months of this year, the number of air passengers in our entire country exceeded around 49 million. This number was around 45.2 million in the same period last year. In the same period, there was an increase of 6 percent at Istanbul Airport from around 18 million to 19.1 million passengers. “While we currently fly to 60 destinations in 50 countries on international routes, today we fly to 356 destinations in 133 countries.”
“It will make Istanbul one of the world’s leading centers in private jet traffic”
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu stated that in addition to all these developments, they highlighted the greatness of İGA General Aviation Terminal and Istanbul Airport in private aviation and said:
“With this general aviation terminal, our Istanbul Airport now further increases its attractiveness in the field of international aviation. With the collaboration of JETEX-IGA, Istanbul is taking concrete steps to become the world's most important stop in luxury travel and business traffic. Our global aviation center, which offers transport to more than 340 destinations, also gains a new dimension in general aviation. In this work, JETEX's international experience in global cities such as Dubai, Paris, Singapore and Marrakesh meets the operational strength of IGA and, in Turkish, hospitality brings Istanbul together.” “This will also make it one of the world’s leading centers for private jet traffic.”
Stating that this terminal will serve a very distinguished group of guests, from heads of state to international businessmen, investors and prominent figures in the art and business world, Uraloğlu added: “For this reason, this terminal is not an ordinary facility, but a strategic investment that will transform our Istanbul Airport into a global private aviation center. It will significantly increase the global connectivity of our airport in the private aviation segment.” he said.
High quality service from private relaxation areas to premium waiting rooms
Minister Uraloğlu said that the terminal was designed with natural stone, wood and specially manufactured surfaces, inspired by the Nazende flower, one of the city's symbols, and that the suites have private seating and relaxation areas, dining areas, personal care facilities, first-class waiting rooms and fast passport security crossings.
Uraloğlu emphasized that this terminal will provide private members with a hassle-free pre- and post-flight travel experience: “Both private jet passengers and passengers seeking convenience on commercial flights can benefit from this world-class service by making a reservation. At a time when global aviation is struggling and uncertainty is increasing, this investment has once again demonstrated Türkiye's position as a 'safe haven' to the whole world.” he said.
Uraloğlu stated that Istanbul Airport will continue to be the world's shining star in general aviation and that it is very important that this investment will initially employ 150 people.
Following the opening speeches, Minister Uraloğlu, Civil Aviation Director General Kemal Yüksek, State Airport Authority Director General Enes Çakmak, Istanbul Airport Civil Administration Manager İlker Haktankaçmaz, Turkish Airlines (THY) Chairman and Executive Committee Murat Şeker, THY General Director Ahmet Olulmuş, AJet General Director Kerem Sarp, İGA Chairman of the Board Cemal Kalyoncu, İGA Istanbul Airport Managing Director (CEO) Selahattin Bilgen. Adel Mardini, founder and CEO of JETEX, cut the opening ribbon of the terminal.
Uraloğlu inspected the terminal after the ribbon cutting.
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