ISTANBUL – Turkey plans to build what it said would be the largest airport in the world in Istanbul, eventually able to handle 150 million passengers per year, in a project seen costing more than 7 billion euros ($9.3 billion). Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said Wednesday the deadline for bids to build the airport, which will be Istanbul's third and have a total of six runways, would be May 3. It was not clear when the contract would be awarded, Reuters said. The airport will add vital capacity in the region and enhance the role of Istanbul, the hub for flag carrier Turkish Airlines. “At full capacity the new airport will be the largest in the world in terms of passengers,” Yildirim told a news conference in Ankara. “We calculate the whole project will cost more than 7 billion euros excluding financing costs.” — Agencies
