First flight takes place at the renewed Hatay Airport after the earthquake

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu provided information on the ongoing work at Hatay Airport. Uraloğlu announced that the first phase of work at Hatay Airport, which was damaged in the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, has been completed. He stated, 'We have put into service the 2,720-meter-long and 45-meter-wide secondary runway. Today, the first flight from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Hatay Airport was carried out.' Uraloğlu noted that they have completed the construction of 5 out of 10 aircraft parking positions on the new apron, the connection taxiway between the new runway and apron, as well as the regulator building and heating center. With the activation of the first phase of work, the number of scheduled flights has increased. Uraloğlu said, 'We have increased our weekly scheduled flight number from 21 to 52, tripling it. After the earthquake, flights to Izmir and Cyprus Ercan Airport were added for the first time alongside flights to Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen, and Esenboğa.' Uraloğlu also highlighted that work is ongoing on the renewal of the main runway, fast exit and connection taxiways, perimeter wall, strengthening of the terminal building, and other infrastructure projects. Additionally, the first landing at the renovated Hatay Airport was made by Pegasus Airlines' flight 'PC2134' departing from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 09:30. The first flight from the renewed Hatay Airport was operated by the same airline with flight 'PC2135' departing at 10:45 to return to Istanbul.