TAV Group, Turkey’s leading airport operator, has been honoured with a Sustainability award from the Sustainable Development Society, a Turkish branch of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
The award praises its “innovative sustainability practices” in building the new terminal for domestic flights at Adnan Menderes airport in Izmir, the country’s third largest city.
TAV Group, which received a €145 million financing package from the EBRD last year for the €250 million project, is recycling and reusing 99 per cent of the old terminal building to construct the new one.
“When we invested in Izmir Airport's domestic terminal, we knew it would become a key reference point in Turkey and the wider region for best sustainability practices,” said Debbie Cousins, an EBRD Senior Environmental and Social Advisor.
“TAV Group is working hard on its sustainability agenda and has been very receptive in taking on board the EBRD’s recommendations. We have been closely monitoring the successful implementation of their waste minimisation and recycling plans and are thrilled to hear that all their efforts have been recognised.”
“As TAV, we have been focussing on sustainability in all of our operations since our establishment,” said Bengi Vargul, TAV Airports Corporate Communications Director. “We consider this as an essential part of our responsibility towards future generations.”
“As we provide top quality service to our passengers along with our stakeholders, we work to generate economic value that would minimise the impact on the environment and create social benefit. In this respect, innovation is the key.”
Besides the recycling of the construction waste, the new terminal will incorporate the latest energy efficient technology in building design and smart water management: heat pumps, solar collectors and trigeneration plant, rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse systems.
As part of the EBRD’s support for the project, the Bank and TAV Group have also agreed to develop and implement a gender action plan to increase female access and participation in the project and supporting businesses and services.
The new terminal will have a total area of 185,000m², eight passenger boarding bridges, and a multi-storey car park for 2,559 cars and auxiliary units.
With sharp, contemporary lines, indoor gardens and pools and spacious internal areas, it is designed to provide travellers with a unique functional and aesthetic experience.
Even from the check-in lounge passengers will be able to see parked aircraft, the apron and planes taking off.
The new terminal building is expected to become operational in 2014 and will support Izmir airport’s growing traffic, both domestic and international, serving up to 25 million passengers annually.
