ISTANBUL: A transfer of Istanbul’s Ataturk airport operations to its new international facility has been delayed and will now happen “gradually” from January, the Turkish transport ministry said on Friday.
Planes and equipment had been due to be moved from Ataturk airport to the new facility on December 31 after its inauguration on October 29 by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“From January 1 2019, the gradual transfer will be accelerated and without compromising the passengers’ comfort, flights and ground services will be transferred from Ataturk Airport to Istanbul Airport gradually,” the transport ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that from December 10, “new flights were added” after an initial 10 flights a day but did not give details.
Turkish news agency DHA had reported on Tuesday that the large move would happen in March 2019.
Turkish Airlines on Wednesday said the move had been “postponed to a future date” but did not say when exactly.
“Until that time, all our current operations will still be carried out at Istanbul Ataturk Airport,” the airline added.
There had already been expectations that the airport, one of a number of mega-projects built under Erdogan’s rule, would not be in use fully until 2019 because of delays and a workers’ strike over poor conditions.
Turkish officials hope the new airport will make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa, and Ankara says it will eventually become the world’s largest.
Istanbul airport transfer now to be ‘gradual’
Istanbul airport transfer now to be ‘gradual’
- The ministry said that from December 10, “new flights were added” after an initial 10 flights a day but did not give details
- Turkish officials hope the new airport will make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa
Saudi Arabia sees 21% jump in mining sector licenses since 2016
- The growth in the Kingdom’s mining sector licenses aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, launched in 2016
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has shown sustained growth, with the number of mining licenses increasing from 1,985 in 2016 to 2,401 by the end of 2024, representing cumulative growth of 21 percent, according to the 2024 mineral wealth statistics from the General Authority for Statistics.
The data highlights a steady upward trend in recent years. Licenses rose to 2,100 in 2021, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year.
The upward trajectory continued with 2,272 licenses in 2022, 2,365 in 2023, and 2,401 in 2024, reflecting expanding exploration and investment activity across the Kingdom’s mining sector. Building material quarries accounted for the largest share of mining permits, climbing from 1,267 licenses in 2021 to 1,481 by 2024.
Exploration licenses also recorded consistent growth, supporting the Kingdom’s broader push to develop its mineral resources.
Other categories of mining activity saw significant expansion, including 2,554 exploration licenses, 744 exploitation licenses, 151 reconnaissance licenses, and 83 surplus mineral ore licenses issued during the same period.
The growth in the Kingdom’s mining sector licenses aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, launched in 2016, which aim to diversify national income sources and strengthen non-oil sectors.
