
The Director General of the State Airports Authority was unanimously elected to the Board of Directors of the Airports Council International in Europe. Turkey has a greater say in European aviation policies.
Enes Çakmak, General Manager of the State Airports Authority (DHMİ), was unanimously elected to the Board of Directors of the Airports Council International (ACI Europe) at the meeting held in Brussels on January 29, 2025. ACI Europe General Director Olivier Jankovec congratulated Enes Çakmak and expressed his satisfaction with this development.
Türkiye Gains More Say in European Aviation Policies
ACI Europe, one of the most important organizations representing airports in Europe, includes more than 55 airports in 500 countries. These airports manage more than 90 percent of European air traffic.
ACI Europe, which cooperates with policy-making institutions for the development of the aviation sector, also leads the way in the establishment of international standards. With the election of DHMİ General Manager Enes Çakmak to the ACI Europe Board of Directors, Turkey has gained more say in European aviation policies.
This development made it possible for Turkey to directly contribute to the decision-making and policy-making processes in the field of aviation in Europe. While DHMİ's effectiveness in the global aviation sector increased, Turkey's strategic importance in air transportation was also strengthened.
50 Airports Have Carbon Accreditation Certificate
The Council also carries out critical work in areas such as environmental sustainability, operational efficiency and digitalization. DHMİ was awarded by ACI as the airport operator with the highest number of Airport Carbon Accreditation Certificates on a global scale in 2024. A total of 50 airports across the country have this certificate.
Istanbul Airport Finished at the Top for 3 Consecutive Years
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized that Turkey is at the center of 4 countries with a total of 1,5 trillion dollars of gross national product and 51,2 billion people living there, with a 67-hour flight distance. Minister Uraloğlu stated that with the investments made in air transportation, Turkey has become a country with a say in the sector on a global scale.
Recalling Turkey's other international successes in the aviation sector, Uraloğlu continued his words as follows:
“The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation 23 report, announced on January 2024, documented our country’s success in the aviation sector once again. Our Istanbul Airport became the busiest airport in Europe with an average of 401 daily flights. It left airports in European capitals such as Amsterdam, London and Paris behind, finishing at the top for 3 consecutive years. Our country also ranked 3th among the countries with the busiest traffic volume in Europe with an average of 140 daily flights.”