Turkey to Reclaim 3 Million Sq Meters from Black Sea for Trabzon Airport Expansion

The Turkish government has initiated an unprecedented engineering project to address increasing air traffic by reclaiming approximately 3 million square meters from the Black Sea. This land reclamation will facilitate the construction of a new international airport adjacent to the existing Trabzon Airport, aiming to significantly increase the airport's capacity and establish the city as a major hub for air transport and tourism in northern Turkey.

Supervised by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the project responds to a substantial rise in passenger numbers, particularly tourists arriving from Gulf countries. The current infrastructure at Trabzon Airport has become insufficient to meet the growing demand for flights.

The plan involves filling the designated sea area with nearly 100 million tons of rock to prepare for a new runway measuring 3,000 meters in length. Alongside the runway, modern facilities will be constructed to accommodate large aircraft. The existing airport will remain operational throughout the construction period.

Upon completion, expected within approximately six years, the project is set to increase the airport’s annual passenger capacity from about 3.5 million to 10 million. The Turkish government anticipates that this expansion will significantly boost tourism and trade in the Black Sea region, reinforcing Trabzon’s status as one of Turkey’s key aerial gateways, especially given the recent rise in visitors from Arab and Gulf countries.

Trabzon Airport ranks among the busiest airports in Turkey outside Istanbul and Ankara due to its strategic location on the Black Sea coast and the city’s growing popularity among tourists. The region attracts many visitors from Gulf countries, drawn by its mountainous landscape and moderate climate.

This undertaking is not Turkey’s first project involving land reclamation for airport construction. Ankara previously completed similar projects, including the Ordu-Giresun Airport, inaugurated in 2015, which is recognized as the first airport in Europe built entirely on reclaimed land from the sea. Comparable techniques have also been applied in several coastal infrastructure projects.

These initiatives reflect Turkey’s strategic focus on investing in air transport infrastructure to keep pace with continuous growth in travel and tourism, aiming to strengthen its position as a regional hub connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.