İGA Istanbul Airport, which is steadily progressing toward its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, completed 2024 with emissions 10.5 percent below its year-end projection. İGA has also raised its 2030 target for renewable energy use from 50 percent to 90 percent.

Acting on the principle of using technology for the benefit of people and the environment, IGA Istanbul Airport published its 2024 “Sustainability Report.” Prepared by taking into account stakeholder opinions and financial impacts through a double materiality analysis, the report highlights IGA's environmental, social, and economic contributions, as well as its cultural and structural gains.

İGA Istanbul Airport, which places sustainability at the center of its strategic plans and applications, completed its 2024 greenhouse gas emissions 1.4% below the previous year and 10.5% below the year-end forecast as a result of its efforts under the approach “Our Focus is the World, Our Goal is the Future.” Committed to achieving its “Net Zero Emissions” target by 2050, IGA has also raised its 2030 target for renewable energy use from 50% to 90%.

Within this framework, the Eskişehir Solar Power Plant (GES) project, which is being built on an area of approximately 3 million square meters with an investment of 212 million euros and a capacity of 199.32 megawatts, is expected to generate 340 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually. Thanks to the GES investment, which is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2025, İGA Istanbul Airport will become the first major airport in the world to meet its entire electricity needs through solar energy.

IGA is working hard to make its operations resilient to changing climate conditions and is evaluating possible scenarios based on scientific data. As part of the “Istanbul Airport Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan” launched in collaboration with TÜBİTAK MAM, regional climate simulations are being used to analyze how airport operations may be affected by climate change, assess risks, and develop long-term adaptation strategies.

Defining the “Sustainability Report,” published annually, not only as an information tool but also as a tool for sharing learning processes and areas of development, IGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen emphasized that it is a great source of pride to be able to lead the global aviation sector with “good examples” in the field of sustainability. Recalling that they signed the “Aviation4All Declaration” in December in Athens as one of 43 pioneering organizations, Bilgen continued his remarks as follows:

“The importance of Istanbul Airport’s role in global aviation and its responsibility within the country’s economy and trade gives us another vital task: contributing to building a sustainable future in terms of environmental, social, and economic dimensions.

We are conducting our efforts in this direction in a multi-faceted manner. We continue our operational processes without compromising on safety; throughout the year, we make significant contributions to the global aviation sector through the flights we operate. We prioritize environmental sustainability projects aimed at reducing our carbon footprint, increasing energy efficiency, and using natural resources more effectively. Through social responsibility projects that focus on social benefit, we aim to improve the quality of life for a wide range of stakeholders, from local communities to our employees. In terms of economic sustainability, we contribute to both the national economy and our global competitive strength through innovative investments and digital transformation strategies. Thanks to this holistic approach, we are not just an airport; we are also advancing toward becoming a vision center that shapes the living spaces of the future. “

Other highlights from the IGA Istanbul Airport “2024 Sustainability Report” are as follows: Within the scope of the IGA Academy, employees participated in 20,494 different training courses aimed at developing their aviation sector skills, with satisfaction rates exceeding 95%. Every TL 1 invested in IGA Academy International Training provided TL 2.51 in social benefits to participants. In addition, the IGA Academy Stakeholder Advisory Board was launched in 2024 with 24 stakeholders to strengthen partnerships in the aviation sector, increase knowledge and experience sharing, and contribute to the development of industry professionals.

Thanks to the Experience Principles and Guest Experience Policy implemented for inclusive and welfare-oriented airport services, the customer experience maturity level, which was 3.73 in 2022, was raised to 4.04 in 2024. The names of the Very Special Guest Rooms and Special Passenger Service Point were changed to Quiet Rooms; a ‘live connection’ service was added to the Indoor Route With Me feature in the Istanbul Airport mobile application to further facilitate independent travel for visually impaired guests.

Under Advanced Waste Separation Applications, an average of 164 tons of waste was separated daily, with 34.07% of this waste recycled. By integrating occupancy sensors into 262 waste containers on site, we optimized our waste collection-related emissions.