DHMİ: European Leader in Airport Carbon Accreditation

The statements made by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, at the Airport Carbon Accreditation Award Ceremony held in Antalya as part of the United Nations Climate Summit (COP31), clearly demonstrate that Turkey is spearheading an eco-friendly transformation in civil aviation. Pointing out that climate change is a global threat profoundly shaking the world and causing both loss of life and massive economic crises, Uraloğlu emphasized that humanity stands at a critical threshold that will determine its destiny. He stated that this threshold will either lead to the greatest catastrophe in human history or pave the way for the greatest success story through a revolutionary transformation in fundamental sectors such as energy, industry, agriculture, and transportation.

 

While the aviation sector serves as the lifeblood of the global economy and a bridge between cultures, its environmental impacts require equally meticulous management. Acting with this awareness, Turkey is rapidly transforming its aviation infrastructure in line with the 2053 Net Zero Emission vision set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The State Airports Authority (DHMİ) is at the heart of this transformation with its Carbon-Free Airport Project. Under the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program, exactly 45 airports operated by DHMİ have been certified at various levels, earning it the title of the operator with the highest number of certificates in Europe. With the inclusion of other airports across the country, Turkey has reached a total of 53 certified airports, ranking second globally only to the United States. The crowning of Antalya Airport with a "Level 4+" certificate and Istanbul Airport with a "Level 4" certificate are cited as the most concrete examples of this determination.

 

Regarding operational efficiency and emission reduction, Istanbul Airport continues to serve as a global model. Thanks to simultaneous triple runway operations—a first in Europe and second in the world after the US—a 25 percent improvement in flight distances has been achieved. This has not only shortened taxi times but also prevented over 50,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Furthermore, the fourth main runway, which entered service on September 18, provided significant flexibility, especially for eastbound departures, quickly saving 591 tons of fuel and reducing carbon emissions by 1,867 tons.

 

The sustainability vision is not limited to operations; airport infrastructures are also being equipped with green energy. To date, a total of 3.7 megawatts of solar power plants have been implemented at airports in Erzincan, Sivas, Gaziantep, Van, and Muğla. New investments continue unabated, particularly at Esenboğa Airport and the Air Traffic Control Center. The introduction of electric "follow-me" and service vehicles, energy savings achieved through LED lighting systems, and zero-waste standards being integrated into all airports form the components of a holistic environmental strategy. In addition, in collaboration with TÜBİTAK-MAM, climate change risk analyses are conducted for airports to take future-oriented resilience measures. Finally, with the free route airspace system, targeted for 24-hour uninterrupted application before the summer of 2027, both fuel consumption and carbon emissions are planned to be reduced to much lower levels. Through its strong collaboration with ACI, Turkey remains resolutely committed to building the green future of aviation.