New Istanbul Airport uses British Steel structural sections

The facility, which is said to become the biggest airport in the world, can currently handle 90 million passengers. However, by the end of the year – when the project has been completed and services transfer from Ataturk International Airport – this figure is set to soar to 200 million passengers.

Richard Farnsworth, British Steel’s managing director for Construction, said: “This is a phenomenal project, the scale of which is awe-inspiring. We were delighted to be invited to supply our sections into the airport so it’s exciting to see it open.

“We’ve an excellent track record of supplying into projects of this nature and we’re proud to be helping connect millions more passengers as they travel across the world.”

British Steel has previously supplied structural sections – manufactured in Scunthorpe and Teesside – into other major airport projects including Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and Muscat International Airport in Oman.

This latest development in Istanbul covers 76.5km² and contains 640,000 tonnes of steel – enough to build 80 Eiffel Towers.

Technology is at the heart of the project with the airport utilising robots, artificial intelligence and facial recognition. And it says it will have the best baggage handling system in the world to minimise waiting times with its 42km long baggage system having the capacity to handle 10,800 pieces of luggage.

To enhance the passenger experience, the airport will have stores covering more than 55,000 square metres and a food court covering 32,000 square metres. And in seven years’ time it’s expected the airport will employ 225,000 people, directly and indirectly.

Richard said: “Istanbul Airport is another fantastic example of how we can deliver world-class steel to major global developments.

“Our sections have gone into some of the most iconic construction projects in the world, from The Shard in London to the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

“The British Steel name is synonymous with products and services of the highest calibre and we look forward to supplying into further projects of this magnitude.”

British Steel www.britishsteel.co.uk