Siemens equips new cargo terminal in Istanbul

Turkish Airlines is extending its cargo capacities with a new terminal at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul. As part of the project, Siemens is fitting out the new cargo terminal with modern conveyor systems. The first expansion phase will be completed by the end of 2014 boosting the airport's annual capacity.

The new cargo terminal building covers a total area of some 40,000 square meters. Siemens is supplying and installing the cargo handling equipment for the terminal. The company's scope of supply includes 308 motor-powered roller decks, 1,050 castor decks and 60 slave pallets. This will ensure fast and efficient cargo handling and the shortest possible waiting times for planes and trucks.

Ataturk Airport is situated on the European side of the city, around 25 kilometers from the city center. With a total of over 37.5 million passengers in 2011, the airport is Europe's eighth largest commercial airport. Ataturk Airport is also an important cargo hub due to its proximity to Asia and Africa. Air cargo volume in Turkey reached around 2.4 million metric tons in 2013 – 830,000 metric tons thereof were handled at Ataturk Airport. The volume is set to rise by another 9.4 percent by 2016.