Turkish transport minister: It was a fair and transparent bid

Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs & Communications Binali Yildirim said on Friday, "it was a fair and transparent bid. The airport addresses the following 50 years of Turkey." Yildirim spoke at the press conference after the bid for new Istanbul airport, held on Friday at the Esenboga InternationalAirport of Turkish capital Ankara. The winner of the bid for new Istanbul airport was Limak/Cengiz/Kolin/Ma-Pa/Kalyon Consortium, a joint venture of only local companies. Minister Yildirim noted that the new airport to be built in Istanbul would rank among the largest airports in the world as one of the most significant works of Turkish aviation vision of 2023. Describing the bid also as a competition, "One firm was to win. It was a fair and transparent bid. The winner firm is Limak/Cengiz/Kolin/Ma-Pa/Kalyon Consortium. The new airport addresses the following 50 years of Turkey," said Yildirim. Yildirim stated that the construction area where a newairport to be "built from scratch" would attract substantial investment. "A large airport to be built in an area of 80 billion square meters, with its six airfields and 1,5 billion square meters terminal and all other auxiliary plants. The airport will be the one to address the following 50 years of Turkey. This airport will not only serve Turkey's needs but also become a popular flight destination from west to east, from east to west and from Africa to Europe," he also added.