Jazmin Li
In May 2020, Turkey announced plans to reopen two of its busiest airports, Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International, to passenger traffic. The airports were set to reopen on May 28, with strict anti-coronavirus measures in place, including mandatory mask and glove-wearing. Turkey's Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu, also confirmed that the country would resume international flights to and from 15 countries, including Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. In June 2021, flights to Turkey resumed from Strigino International Airport, with the first flight operated by AZUR Air.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of reopening | 28 May 2020 |
| Airports reopened | Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport |
| Types of flights | Initially, only domestic flights |
| Safety measures | Mandatory masks and gloves, thermal scanners, special disinfecting mats, social distancing, disinfection of terminals |
| Other measures | Relatives not allowed to enter the airport, separate terminals for passengers from high and low-risk zones |
| International flights | Resumed with 15 countries including Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Belarus, Jordan, Morocco |
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What You'll Learn
- Turkey reopened Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International in May 2020
- Masks and gloves were mandatory for passengers and staff
- Thermal scanners were used to monitor the temperature of passengers
- Turkey resumed reciprocal flights with 15 countries in June 2021
- Turkey is working to ensure COVID-19-free airports
Turkey reopened Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International in May 2020
Turkey reopened Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in May 2020, with strict anti-coronavirus measures in place. The move was part of Turkey's efforts to restore its tourism industry, which accounts for 12% of the country's economy, and welcome travellers back to the country.
Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, located on the Asian side of Istanbul, are two of Turkey's busiest airports, having handled more than 90 million passengers and hundreds of thousands of flights in 2019. The decision to reopen the airports came as Turkey aimed to restart its tourism industry, which had suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Initially, the airports only handled domestic flights, with strict safety protocols in place. Passengers and staff were required to wear face masks and gloves, and thermal scanners were used to monitor body temperature. Additionally, passengers travelling via Istanbul Airport had to disclose their destination, as Turkish cities were divided into risk zones.
The reopening of these airports in May 2020 was a significant step towards reviving Turkey's tourism sector and reconnecting the country with international travellers. It is worth noting that other airports in Turkey, such as Strigino International Airport, also resumed flights around the same time, gradually increasing the frequency of flights to resort destinations and expanding their programmes.
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Masks and gloves were mandatory for passengers and staff
As Turkey began to reopen its airports in 2020, masks and gloves were mandatory for passengers and staff. This was part of a host of measures introduced by authorities to allow air travel to resume while keeping passengers and staff safe.
Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which together handled over 90 million passengers and hundreds of thousands of flights in 2019, reopened on May 28, 2020, with strict anti-coronavirus measures in place. These included mandatory masks and gloves for passengers and staff, thermal scanners to monitor body temperature, and special mats to disinfect shoes.
Initially, the airports only handled domestic flights, and passengers from high and low-risk zones used separate terminals. Turkey's Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu, announced that international flights to and from 15 countries would resume, and that Turkey was in talks with 92 countries about restoring flight connections.
In June 2021, flights to Turkey resumed from Strigino International Airport, with the first flight from Nizhny to Antalya operated by AZUR Air.
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Thermal scanners were used to monitor the temperature of passengers
In May 2020, Turkey announced plans to reopen two of its busiest airports—Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International—to passenger traffic from 28 May, albeit with strict restrictions. As part of these measures, thermal scanners were used to monitor the temperature of passengers.
Istanbul Airport's CEO, Kadri Samsunlu, confirmed that wearing masks and gloves would be mandatory for passengers and most staff. Thermal scanners would be used at various locations to monitor the temperature of passengers. Special mats, capable of disinfecting shoes, would also be placed around the airport.
Thermal scanners were placed at the entrances of each terminal to identify passengers with high body temperatures, which is a possible symptom of COVID-19 infection. Health officers could monitor passengers' body temperatures on a computer next to the camera. Passengers with temperatures above 38.5°C would be flagged as red on the monitor and immediately taken to the airport's health monitoring centre.
The use of thermal scanners was part of Turkey's efforts to ensure COVID-19-free airports and restore confidence in air travel.
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Turkey resumed reciprocal flights with 15 countries in June 2021
Turkey, like many countries, sealed its borders to contain the coronavirus outbreak. However, in June 2020, Turkey planned to resume flights with 40 countries, including reaching preliminary agreements for reciprocal air travel with 15 countries. The Transport Minister, Adil Karaismailoglu, announced that flights would resume in five stages in June, with Turkey in talks with 92 countries about safe travel.
The 15 countries with which reciprocal agreements were reached included Italy, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Belarus, Jordan, and Morocco. Germany was also in talks with Ankara about reviewing travel restrictions but was awaiting a recommendation from the European Union.
Turkey's airports implemented a host of new measures to ensure safe travel and restore confidence in air travel. These included the mandatory wearing of gloves and masks, disinfection tunnels, all-biometric check-ins, and security checks by appointment. Thermal scanners were used to monitor the temperature of passengers, and special mats were placed around the airport to disinfect shoes.
In June 2021, flights to Turkey resumed from Strigino International Airport, with the first flight from Nizhny to Antalya operated by AZUR Air. Russia also resumed flights to Turkey on June 22, 2021, and authorities planned to allow flights to resume with eight other countries starting June 28, including the US, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Jordan.
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Turkey is working to ensure COVID-19-free airports
Turkey is taking a range of measures to ensure COVID-19-free airports and restore confidence in air travel. The country's aviation industry is highly regulated, and precautions against COVID-19 are outlined in the "Airports Pandemic Precautions and Certification Circular", issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM). These precautions are being implemented at airports across Turkey, with some even exceeding legal requirements.
One such airport is Milas-Bodrum Airport, where the movement of passengers and staff has been mapped out to enable safe physical distancing. The frequency of disinfection and hygiene works has been increased, and arrangements have been made to minimise contact between passengers and staff. Duty-free, F&B, and storage areas are frequently disinfected, and contactless payment options are recommended.
Istanbul Airport, which handled more than 90 million passengers and hundreds of thousands of flights in 2019, has also implemented strict anti-coronavirus measures. These include mandatory mask and glove requirements for passengers and staff, thermal scanners to monitor body temperature, and special mats that disinfect shoes. Passengers must disclose their destination, and those from high and low-risk zones will use separate terminals.
Turkey's efforts to ensure COVID-19-free airports are part of a broader strategy to promote safe travel and revive its tourism industry, which accounts for 12% of the country's economy. The country has introduced temperature controls and tests at airports, a safe certification scheme for hotels and restaurants, and a low-cost COVID-19 tourist protection health scheme for visitors.
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Frequently asked questions
Turkey reopened two of its busiest airports, Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen International, on May 28, 2020, with strict anti-coronavirus measures in place.
Everyone entering the airport premises must wear face masks and gloves. Thermal scanners are used to monitor the temperature of passengers at various locations. Special mats that can disinfect shoes are placed around the airport. Passengers must disclose their destination, and those from high and low-risk zones will use separate terminals.
Only baby care products, laptops, and ladies' handbags are allowed to be taken onboard. Liquids such as cologne and disinfectants with a high rate of alcohol are allowed in containers up to 100ml.
Turkey resumed international flights with 15 countries, including Italy, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Belarus, Jordan, and Morocco. Turkey is also in talks with 92 countries to resume connections.
