Istanbul’s new mega airport, Istanbul Airport, has been certified as a five-star airport by London-based international air transport rating agency Skytrax. The airport also received a 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating, according to a statement made by the operating company IGA on Tuesday.
The prestigious rating comes just 18 months after the city’s new airport opened. In receiving the rating, the airport becomes one of eight major, five-star hub airports around the world.
IGA CEO Kadri Samsunlu said while the airport was commissioned only two years ago, it has been operational for a year and a half and has already been awarded “5-Star Airport” and “5-Star COVID-19 Airport” status by world-renowned aviation organization Skytrax.
“Among hub airports, following Doha, Hong Kong, Munich, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo, we are the eighth hub airport to receive the five-star rating. Istanbul Airport has become the third airport in the world, after Rome Fiumicino and Hamad International Airport, to receive the ‘5-Star COVID-19 Airport’ award related to the COVID-19 measures implemented at airports,” he said, noting that these prestigious accolades are an indication of the trust placed in IGA and Istanbul Airport “first and foremost by our passengers and also the aviation authorities in the world.”
He said those who diligently take concrete steps to uphold the values they believe in will inevitably achieve their dreams. “As IGA, we turned a dream into reality, and now we have turned the reality into leadership at Istanbul Airport. We are proud and happy to turn such success into reality on behalf of our country. We will continue to do our best to make our country and Istanbul Airport the supreme hub of aviation, with the excitement and the enthusiasm on the first day.”
