A ceremony was held to mark the number of passengers at Rize-Artvin Airport, which is Turkey's second seaside airport, exceeding 1 million during the year.
2023-year-old Emine Ataman, the 1 millionth passenger at Rize-Artvin Airport, which reached a capacity of 1 million passengers in 57, was welcomed with a ceremony.
A ceremony was held at Rize-Artvin Airport, which was opened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev on May 14, 2022, due to the number of passengers exceeding 1 million during the year. While the airport tower was illuminated with the text "Congratulations to our 1 millionth passenger", Emine Ataman, who came to Rize-Artvin Airport from Istanbul and became the 1 millionth passenger, was seen on the apron with Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş, Artvin Governor Cengiz Ünsal, Rize Mayor Rahmi. While Metin, Civil Aviation General Manager Kemal Yüksek, State Airports Deputy General Manager Fatih Çakmak, and protocol members of Rize and Artvin provinces welcomed together, all passengers on the plane were presented with tea. A gift was also presented to Ataman by the welcoming delegation.
Emine Ataman, the 1 millionth passenger, was welcomed on the apron by Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş, Artvin Governor Cengiz Ünsal, Rize Mayor Rahmi Metin and protocol members. At the ceremony, Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş video-called our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, on his mobile phone and conveyed his views to the citizens.
Stating that they welcomed the one millionth passenger in the first calendar year, Rize Governor İhsan Selim Baydaş said, "Today is a pleasant day. When we came to the airport as a governor for the first time 3-4 months ago, we asked the airport civil administrator how many passengers we had, and he said 'we will find 1 million this year.' And I said, 'We will reach 1 million this year.' I suggested, 'Then let's welcome the 1 millionth passenger with a ceremony.' We are hosting the 1 millionth passenger in the first calendar year today. As of January XNUMX, we are welcoming our one millionth airport passenger. He actually surprised his family, but it was also a surprise to him. By reaching this capacity, we are reducing the need for our airport. "We gave tea as a gift to every guest who came as a passenger on this plane today," he said.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that they wanted to see 10 million passengers in the program via live connection and said, “On this occasion, it has been registered how much our airport is needed and how necessary it is. I send greetings from Antalya to the authorities of Rize and Artvin provinces for this event. Good luck to our airport. It is not a transportation project but also a work of engineering. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed, especially our President. "I hope God will grant us the opportunity to see 10 million people," he said.
Artvin Governor Cengiz Ünsal said, “Today is a big day for our Artvin and Rize. We just welcomed our sister Emine Ataman, the one millionth passenger, together with the Governor of Rize. Hopefully this number will continue to increase. Of course, the construction of Rize-Artvin Airport is very important. In addition to being of economic value, it is also a valuable example of Turkish engineering work. The contribution of our airport to our region is great. It contributes in many ways, from saving our people's time to fuel, from reducing traffic accidents to reducing emission gases. It also makes significant contributions to the economy, tourism and commercial life of the world and our country. "I hope many millions will endure it," he said.
Emine Ataman, who stated that she was given a millionth passenger surprise while she was going to surprise her family, said, “I would like to thank our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for bringing this airport to our city. My parents are old. My sister also got sick. I wondered about that too. I told my husband I'm leaving. He said, "You've just arrived." I said okay, let me go again. We are 10 siblings and I did not tell any of them that I was coming. They called this morning, but I didn't let them know I was coming. These were a surprise to me too, and the surprise I would have made was also gone. We couldn't come if it was Trabzon, but I get off from here and go to Hemşin in 20 minutes. My wife and children know that I am coming. I was so excited I thought I was going to faint at that moment. I am so happy. Rize-Artvin Airport made development much easier. My mom and dad call me saying I'm sick. Previously, brother was looking for brother. "So that you or I can leave," he said.
Following her speeches, various gifts were presented to the 1 millionth passenger, Emine Atama.