Hatay Airport has reopened to flights

Hatay Airport, badly damaged in the devastating earthquakes of 6 February 2023, has reopened to flights following an extensive month-long programme of repair and renewal. The airport was closed on 1 August to allow for reconstruction works.

After an intensive effort lasting four weeks, the first phase of the project was completed, and services resumed on 1 September. Coordinated by Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the upgrade went beyond simple repairs.

A new auxiliary runway measuring 2,720 metres in length and 45 metres in width was built, along with a modern apron. Taxiways were reorganised, and new infrastructure including a regulator building and heating plant were constructed, boosting both resilience and capacity. Authorities say the reopening of Hatay Airport will not only ease transport links to the region but also help revive the city’s economic and social life.