iGA Istanbul Airport, one of the world's major global transfer hubs, has shared its insights on how to prepare for and combat the challenging winter weather. With a strong team of 404 people and 176 vehicles, the airport aims to continue to provide services to ensure passengers’ safety when travelling, as well as maintaining an uninterrupted flight schedule. iGA Istanbul Airport held a press briefing on Dec. 5, to share how it has prepared for the upcoming winter conditions.
“iGA Istanbul Airport plays host to over 200,000 guests from around the world and facilitates more than 1,200 flights daily. It is of utmost importance for us to continue the same level of hospitality and service to our passengers and all stakeholders, regardless of snow or winter conditions. Thanks to our training programs, maintenance of our vehicle fleet, and strategic planning, we are ready for even the most challenging conditions,” said Ozan Karakış, the airside operations director at iGA Istanbul Airport.
iGA Istanbul Airport's preparations for combating snow and ice include the following:
- In the effort to combat snow and ice, the movement area has been strategically divided into seven sectors, each hosting a dedicated 'snow combat fleet.' The seven fleets are working together to ensure the most effective results.
- 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 ‘snow combat zones.’
- Collectively, 404 personnel from the Airside Operations Directorate and 176 vehicles are on standby to provide their services.
- The staff undergo approximately 7,000 hours of "combatting challenging weather conditions" training each year, and consistently perform maintenance and repairs on the vehicle fleet.
- For use in covered areas, 1750 tons of liquid (potassium acetate) and 700 tons of solid (sodium formate, etc.) materials have been stockpiled.
iGA Istanbul Airport’s wide selection of winter vehicles include, snow plow pick-up trucks, snow-tracks, towable snow combating vehicles and more.
