Istanbul airport VIP terminal launched by Jetex

• Terminal is ‘strategic investment’
• Fourth runway to open this year
• Airport expecting 90m passengers

UAE aviation company Jetex has launched the world’s largest VIP terminal at Istanbul International Airport, seeking to cash in on the growing demand for top-end travel in the region.

The new 5,000 square metre facility, operated in conjunction with the airport’s management company IGA (Istanbul Grand Airport), was formally opened on May 5, adding to the network of 40 terminals run by Jetex globally.

Among the services on offer are private suites, dining and bar areas, a spa and expedited passport and security checks.

“This terminal is not an ordinary facility; it is a strategic investment that will transform Istanbul Airport into a global hub in private aviation,” Turkish transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said.

That transformation comes as Istanbul Airport is expected to overtake Britain’s Heathrow as Europe’s busiest aviation hub this year. The two tied for first place in 2025, both handling 84 million passengers, a number set to rise to 90 million for Istanbul in 2026.

Flight operations at Istanbul are to be further enhanced with the opening of a fourth runway later this year that will take passenger handling capacity to 120 million per annum.

Murat Tanrıverdi, Jetex’s VIP Terminal sales and marketing manager in Istanbul, said the company sees strong interest not only from the regional market, but also from international travellers, luxury travel agencies, private banking clients, concierge companies and corporate partners.

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That potential will be given a significant boost next year, when Istanbul returns to the schedule for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, having been a fixture on the programme between 2005 and 2011, while also staging two F1 races during the Covid pandemic.

The high profile F1 events attract a significant volume of private and VIP air traffic to hosting cities, both from racing teams and spectators. The 2027 Istanbul race is forecast to draw 35,000 overseas visitors.

With Istanbul also increasingly serving as a venue for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) tourism segment, and international business and diplomatic events, Jetex is confident its VIP service will take off.