Turkish Airlines big switch Istanbul Airport on April 6

By Tuba Sahin</p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – As it switches its operations to the new mega-Istanbul Airport, Turkish Airlines will end all scheduled flights at Ataturk Airport as of April 6 at 2.00 a.m. local time (April 5, 2300GMT), the airline said on Monday.</p> <p>The national flag carrier will resume all flight operations planned for Ataturk Airport from its new home Istanbul Airport as of the afternoon of April 6 at 14.00 local time (1100GMT), it announced on Twitter.</p> <p>Istanbul Airport, the “world's new hub,” officially opened on Oct. 29, 2018, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.</p> <p>Once fully completed — including four phases with six runways — Istanbul Airport is set to serve 150 million passengers annually.</p> <p>At full capacity, Istanbul Airport will become a global aviation hub by hosting more than 100 airlines and flights to over 300 destinations around the world.</p> <p>Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, currently has more than 330 aircraft, including passenger and cargo planes.</p> <p>It flies to 306 destinations in 124 countries. Last year, Turkish Airlines carried 75.2 million passengers with a seat occupancy rate of 82 percent.