iGA Istanbul Airport is Ready for Winter

iGA Istanbul Airport has showcased its preparations for severe weather conditions.
As an airport serving flights to 321 destinations worldwide, iGA continues to enhance its capacity for seamless and safe travel, demonstrating its readiness for winter with a team of 404 personnel and a fleet of 179 vehicles.

As one of the world’s most significant global transfer hubs, iGA Istanbul Airport shared the measures it has taken for winter preparations. “We are ready for all kinds of severe weather conditions,” stated Mehmet Büyükkaytan, Chief Airport Operations Officer at iGA Istanbul Airport. He highlighted that the Airside Operations team, responsible for snow management, undergoes 7,000 hoursof annual training in "managing extreme climate conditions." Büyükkaytan also provided details about the vehicles to be used for snow and ice management, emphasizing that 404 personnel from the Airside Operations, supported by 179 vehicles, are ready for immediate response. He underlined the importance of regular maintenance and repairs for the vehicle fleet.

According to Eurocontrol data from December 2-8, iGA Istanbul Airport, hosting 1,352 daily flights, is the busiest airport in Europe. Commenting on this, Mehmet Büyükkaytan said: “As one of Europe’s busiest airports, hosting the highest number of daily flights, our priority at iGA Istanbul Airport is always safety. To ensure this, we take precautions and make preparations for the challenges posed by climate conditions, such as heavy snow and ice, alongside other measures. Our expert personnel regularly receive refresher training to stay updated on immediate response protocols. Additionally, we are meticulous about the maintenance of our snow and ice management fleet, acquiring new vehicles when necessary, as we did this year. At iGA Istanbul Airport, ensuring our guests reach their loved ones safely and comfortably is of utmost importance to us.”

"Real-time data is collected from four meteorological stations around the airport"
Büyükkaytan further stated that four meteorological stations around the airport actively collect real-time data to ensure uninterrupted and safe operational processes:

“Through the four meteorological stations installed around iGA Istanbul Airport, we gather accurate, up-to-date, and real-time meteorological information relevant to our airport’s operational processes, enhancing flight safety. This infrastructure significantly contributes to maintaining uninterrupted operations, especially during the harsh winter months. iGA Istanbul Airport continuously updates its technological infrastructure and equipment to ensure preparedness for all conditions.”

iGA Istanbul Airport's preparations for combating snow and ice include the following:

• 1,750 tons of liquid (potassium acetate) and 700 tons of solid (sodium formate, etc.) materials are stored for use in paved areas.
• The movement area is divided into seven sectors, with a dedicated “snow management fleet” assigned to each sector. These seven fleets work simultaneously and in coordination at intersection points.
• The entire area designated for snow combat, comprising the Runway, Taxiway, Apron Asphalt Paved Areas, Concrete Apron Areas, Apron Service Roads, and Perimeter Road, spans more than 12 million m2 constituting the comprehensive ‘snow combat zones.’ Appropriate plans have been developed accordingly.
• A total of 404 Airside Operations Directorate personnel and 179 vehicles are on standby for immediate intervention. Vehicle maintenance is performed regularly.

Vehicles in iGA Istanbul Airport's winter operations fleet:

1 Mobile Command Center 5 Snowplow Pickups 34 Towable Snow Management Vehicles 15 Compact Snow Management Vehicles 4 Snow Rotators 10 Snowplow Trucks 1 Runway Friction Measurement Vehicle 5 Runway Friction Measurement Devices 24 Follow Me Vehicles 4 Snow Tracked Operation Vehicles 4 Solid De-Icing Spreaders 1 Fuel Tanker 5 Dump Trucks 4 Runway De-Icing Trucks 6 Apron/Taxiway De-Icing Trucks 1 De-Icing Tanker 6 Wheeled Loaders 18 Mini Compact Snowplow and De-Icing Spray Vehicles 1 Telescopic Loader 22 Multifunctional Snow Tractors (130 HP) 8 Multifunctional Snow Tractors (260 HP)