Heathrow Airport overshadowed by Istanbul Airport..
Discussion
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx7kwkqqkgo
Heathrow loses its status as Europe's busiest airport to iGA operated Istanbul Airport.
Should we care?
Having used both airports I have to say that Istanbul airport is a delight to use although it is huge but I'm not sure that being the biggest or the busiest is the best. JFK is like a building site at the moment as they increase capacity and it's horrid to use. I'm wondering if over the long term it would work out to be cheaper and easier to modernise smaller multiple airports?
Which begs the question, does Heathrow have to be huge?
Or is Istanbul's new airport even in Europe?
The old Istanbul airport isn't!
Heathrow loses its status as Europe's busiest airport to iGA operated Istanbul Airport.
Should we care?
Having used both airports I have to say that Istanbul airport is a delight to use although it is huge but I'm not sure that being the biggest or the busiest is the best. JFK is like a building site at the moment as they increase capacity and it's horrid to use. I'm wondering if over the long term it would work out to be cheaper and easier to modernise smaller multiple airports?
Which begs the question, does Heathrow have to be huge?
Or is Istanbul's new airport even in Europe?
The old Istanbul airport isn't!Air travel continues to grow globally, and many airports struggle to keep up. The difference is that some places seem to be better at long term strategic planning and investing. The UK not so much…
Heathrow has needed a new runway and more space for over 20 years but plans never seem to - ahem - get off the ground.
Istanbul’s old airport was on the European side of the Bosphorus. You’re thinking of their secondary budget airline airport Sabah Gokcen (spelling?) which is on the Asian side.
Istanbul probably also benefits from a national airline which has invested billions on a growth strategy and loads of new planes as they want to become a global player. BA doesn’t think/operate the same way!
Heathrow has needed a new runway and more space for over 20 years but plans never seem to - ahem - get off the ground.
Istanbul’s old airport was on the European side of the Bosphorus. You’re thinking of their secondary budget airline airport Sabah Gokcen (spelling?) which is on the Asian side.
Istanbul probably also benefits from a national airline which has invested billions on a growth strategy and loads of new planes as they want to become a global player. BA doesn’t think/operate the same way!
Istanbul is also at the Eastern Hemisphere's crossroads. It is perfectly positioned to act as a central hub between Europe, Asia and Africa, providing low cost travel compared to direct flights for emerging markets.
Heathrow grew important as a hub between Europe and the US - no longer necessary as direct routes seem more popular for the richer markets.
Heathrow grew important as a hub between Europe and the US - no longer necessary as direct routes seem more popular for the richer markets.
I have travelled through Istanbul 3 times in recent months, should have been 4 but I missed a plane by 24h lol.
I will admit I was anxious about the 1 hour 25 minutes stop over, and being on a Turkish budget airline. Pegasus.
The ticket included extra leg room, basic food, and a total of 41kg baggage.
Probably the most efficient airline I have ever travelled with. All 6 flights pushed back on time or early.
Left one, through a security scan, to next gate, had time to eat and drink.
Frankfurt, with a similar stop over was a panic.
I will admit I was anxious about the 1 hour 25 minutes stop over, and being on a Turkish budget airline. Pegasus.
The ticket included extra leg room, basic food, and a total of 41kg baggage.
Probably the most efficient airline I have ever travelled with. All 6 flights pushed back on time or early.
Left one, through a security scan, to next gate, had time to eat and drink.
Frankfurt, with a similar stop over was a panic.
shirt said:
Pegasus use Sabiha gokcen, it s not the same airport.
SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
We use IST alot, and totally agree with the taxiiing time, but apart from that it's very efficient considering the size, we have had some really tight connection times, been surprised we've made it, never mind the bags, but they always seem to do (I bet they go missing next week, or our return now SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
) Yetski said:
shirt said:
Pegasus use Sabiha gokcen, it s not the same airport.
SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
We use IST alot, and totally agree with the taxiiing time, but apart from that it's very efficient considering the size, we have had some really tight connection times, been surprised we've made it, never mind the bags, but they always seem to do (I bet they go missing next week, or our return now SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
) Yetski said:
shirt said:
Pegasus use Sabiha gokcen, it s not the same airport.
SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
We use IST alot, and totally agree with the taxiiing time, but apart from that it's very efficient considering the size, we have had some really tight connection times, been surprised we've made it, never mind the bags, but they always seem to do (I bet they go missing next week, or our return now SG is everything that was bad about 90s package holidays. The new airport is ok. Unnecessarily huge though, and taxiing is on par with schiphol. You seem to spend more time taxiing and transiting than you do in the air.
) IIRC the biggest miss is that there’s no pharmacy
Yetski said:
We use IST alot, and totally agree with the taxiiing time, but apart from that it's very efficient considering the size, we have had some really tight connection times, been surprised we've made it, never mind the bags, but they always seem to do (I bet they go missing next week, or our return now )
When I flew to Bishkek through IST in June quite a few passengers’ luggage hadn’t made it. 60 mins is way too tight a connection to be selling there, as a passenger you’ll probably make it if you get a shift on but I wouldn’t chance it if I had hold luggage.) I wasn’t overly keen on the airport, too sprawling with no transit system between the gates, coffee and water and the usual things extremely expensive. The lounge is good though!
Screenwash said:
Istanbul = Dubai, Puggit? Same aims and claims?!
Turkish Airlines has 251 international routes in 130 countries.Emirates has 137 international routes.
Emirates is entirely wide body planes, Turkish is 2/3rds narrow body.
I think Turkish are stealing a march on them (and everyone else!).
LRDefender said:
Should we care?
The only thing we should care about is whether it's serving our, and global aviation's, purposes. If it ain't, then something should be done.
If a higher number in Turkey is making Heathrow feel insecure, they can always run a 10 minute 24/7 flight off a taxiway filled with volunteers to get the numbers up.
I'd assume increased growth is inevitable for an airport that leans towards areas of the world with a lot more growth to come than us.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Screenwash said:
Heathrow has needed a new runway and more space for over 20 years but plans never seem to - ahem - get off the ground.
Daft question but where would a new runway at Heathrow go? Its surrounded on 3 sides by built up areas and the M25 on the other side?https://www.heathrow.com/expansion/about-expansion
bloomen said:
The only thing we should care about is whether it's serving our, and global aviation's, purposes.
If it ain't, then something should be done.
If a higher number in Turkey is making Heathrow feel insecure, they can always run a 10 minute 24/7 flight off a taxiway filled with volunteers to get the numbers up.
I'd assume increased growth is inevitable for an airport that leans towards areas of the world with a lot more growth to come than us.
Probably all that needs to be said on this matter!If it ain't, then something should be done.
If a higher number in Turkey is making Heathrow feel insecure, they can always run a 10 minute 24/7 flight off a taxiway filled with volunteers to get the numbers up.
I'd assume increased growth is inevitable for an airport that leans towards areas of the world with a lot more growth to come than us.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff