iGA Istanbul Airport recognized as "China Friendly Airport"

iGA Istanbul Airport, a global aviation hub that has elevated Türkiye's aviation standards, continues to offer excellent customer service following its receipt of the "China Friendly Airport" certificate in 2020. As the first terminal building in the world to instill the "China Friendly Airport" project comprehensively, iGA Istanbul Airport has tailored its unique products and services to its Chinese visitors and has continued to implement these services and enhance customer experiences since receiving the accolade. Renowned for its exceptional architecture, robust infrastructure, accessibility and equality standards, and overall top-tier passenger experience, iGA Istanbul Airport has remained steadfast in enhancing the travel experience of Chinese travelers.

The endeavor aims to transform the airport experience for Chinese travelers, ensuring their time at iGA Istanbul Airport is both enjoyable and memorable. This has been achieved through having Chinese speaking staff and Chinese signs at the airport, increasing the number of Chinese airline companies and passengers coming to iGA Istanbul Airport and overall, aiming to make Chinese guests feel at home.

Mr. Majid Khan, Vice President of Aviation Development, stresses the importance of keeping the ancient friendship between China and Türkiye alive, therefore making a positive contribution to the relationship between the two countries, and stated that they aim to make Chinese guests feel "at home" with "passenger-friendly" amenities available at the airport.

Emphasizing the long-standing ties between the two nations, Mr. Khan says, "China is an important country for us, we have historical, cultural and economic relations. We have been working on reviving the historical ‘Silk Road’ between the two countries by air. We would like our Chinese guests to talk about the unique experience they had at iGA Istanbul Airport, how they felt at home in a way that would contribute to our country's tourism. We also aim to create a network where Chinese passengers travelling to Europe can use iGA Istanbul Airport as a transfer point. Accordingly, we have been planning to further increase our passenger-friendly applications in the upcoming period."

Key initiatives introduced at iGA Istanbul Airport include:

● Chinese Language Support and Integration: Chinese-speaking staff, Chinese announcements inside aero planes arriving from China and Chinese signage have been integrated throughout the airport to ensure no detail is overlooked for the comfort of Chinese travelers.

● Dedicated Services: Tailored services such as dedicated check-in areas for passengers from China, flight departures from a designated area, flight information screens translated in Chinese as well as boarding announcements in Chinese, and Chinese translations of ticket processing screens have been made available.

● Digital Engagement: iGA Istanbul Airport has established a presence on popular Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, while offering its iGA Istanbul Airport mobile application in Chinese. WeChat payment is now also an available method of payment at the airport’s duty free.

● Comfort Enhancements: The airport now features hot water dispensers on arrival and departure floors, "Welcome" signs on passenger bridges, and staff wearing distinctive uniforms to create a more welcoming environment for Chinese guests.

● Chinese Integration: Chinese announcements inside aero planes arriving from China and Chinese signage distributed across various airport areas to ensure no detail is overlooked for the comfort of Chinese travelers. The airport has also developed their own Chinese Friendly Airport Video to be shown on aero planes flying to Istanbul from China.

iGA Istanbul Airport's recognition as a "China Friendly Airport" underscores its commitment to setting new standards in passenger experience and strengthening the bond between China and Türkiye through seamless and welcoming travel experiences and serving as a pivotal link between continents. 

iGA Istanbul Airport has established itself as a must-visit destination, as well as a globally renowned transport hub in the aviation industry. Constantly striving to improve its human-centered approach, iGA recognizes everyone’s fundamental right to travel. Passengers can expect a variety of experiences across retail, food and beverage, wellness, entertainment and culture that are designed to make journeys as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Since the start of its operations, iGA Istanbul Airport has welcomed over 200 million passengers, iGA offers flights to an astonishing 301 destinations, with the number of international visitors increasing by 77.4% since 2022.