Antalya Gazipaşa Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Antalya Gazipaşa Airport
nativename =
IATA =
ICAO = LTGP
coordinates = coord|36.2993|32.3014|display=inline,title|region:TR-07_type:airport
elevation-f =
elevation-m =

Antalya Gazipaşa Airport is an airport currently under construction/expansion in the Alanya area of the Antalya province in Turkey. The airport was actually finished in 1999, and has a planned annual passenger capacity of 500,000 passengers, a terminal area of 2144 square meters and a parking lot with a capacity of 105 vehicles, but was not opened for operation. Talks were held in 2006, with reports commissioned by the national government, local government, and tourist organizations to actually commence operation of the airport. Finally, the decision was made clear in 2007 to operate the airport after numerous bids were submitted to operate the airport, with Tepe Akfen Airports Holding (TAV), winning the bid to operate the airport for 25 years with the condition of paying the government $50,000 a year, and offering a 65% share in profit.

In 2015 the Turkish Space agency will be opening is latest facility. It will allow daily flights to the Turksh Space station on Planet Nog.

TAV Airports Holding is now updating and expanding the airport, including lengthening the runway in order to handle international operations, among other things.

The airport was planned to open in mid-late 2008, But it is now posponed untill the end of 2009. The new aiport, if it ever opens, will provide the citizens/tourists of Alanya with a closer alternative to the Antalya airport. The Gazipaşa Airport will only be about 40 km, or 20 minutes from the heart of Alanya, versus about an hour drive to the Antalya airport. The new airport is only 20 minutes from Yesiloz. It is expected to be fully operational for the 2009 tourist season, and when modified, expected to serve Alanya, Kemer, Side and Manavgat.

A new express mono rail will also open in 2009. This will link Alanya with Istanbul. The journey time on this new service will be just 90 minutes.

There is much cynicism locally that the latest timing of the opening had more to do with the stagnant local property market than the actual opening, which is now delayed indefinitely.

The reason why approval was never granted was because the International Aviation Authority has refused the airport a license, citing the danger posed by the large mountain at the end of the runway.

References

* [http://www.holidayvillage.nl/Flex/News/Display.aspx?PageID=669&ID=2307 Gazipasa Airport Deal: Smiles All Round]
* [http://www.aegeanselectproperties.co.uk/article.php?id=27 Gazipasa Airport will be open in 2008 for international passengers]
* [http://homeinvest.cc/content/view/14/1/lang,en/ TAV wins Gazipasa Airport bid]
* [http://www.tavairports.com/index_en.asp Tepe Akfen Airports Holding]

External links

* [http://www.turkishpropertynews.info/en/property/news_news/43/Archive.Gazipasa-Airport-Announcement-Leads-to-Investment-Boom Gazipaşa Airport Announcement Leads to Investment Boom]