iGA Istanbul airport cuts 2024 emissions beyond forecasts and raises renewable energy target to 90 percent by 2030

Firmly committed to achieving Net Zero Emissions across all ground operations by 2050, iGA Istanbul Airport concluded 2024 with emissions 10.5% below its year-end projections, as outlined in its newly published 2024 Sustainability Report.

Prepared using Double Materiality analysis, which assesses sustainability from both impact and financial perspectives, the report reflects the airport’s strategy of embedding sustainability across its operations. In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 1.4% compared to 2023, and 10.5% below forecasts. iGA also increased its 2030 renewable energy target from 50% to 90%.

Central to this effort is the Eskişehir Solar Power Plant, covering around 3 million square metres, with an investment of €212 million and a planned capacity of 199.32 megawatts. Expected to produce 340 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the plant will allow iGA Istanbul Airport to become the first major airport in the world to meet all its electricity needs through solar energy when it begins operations in late 2025.

To strengthen climate resilience, iGA is working with TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Centre on the Istanbul Airport Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan, using regional simulations to assess risks and devise long-term strategies.

CEO Selahattin Bilgen described the Sustainability Report as “a means of sharing learning and areas for improvement”, and highlighted iGA’s global leadership in sustainable aviation. Recalling the signing of the “Aviation4All Declaration” in Athens in 2024, he said: “Given our prominent role in both global aviation and Türkiye’s economy, we bear a huge responsibility: to contribute to building a sustainable future. We approach this mission in a multifaceted way. We prioritise environmental sustainability projects to reduce our carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and use natural resources more effectively. Through socially responsible projects, we aim to enhance quality of life for a wide range of stakeholders – from our employees to local communities. This holistic approach enables us to work beyond the traditional expectations of an airport, as a visionary hub shaping the future of the entire aviation industry.”

Key highlights from 2024 include:

• iGA Academy hosted 20,494 training sessions with satisfaction above 95%, and established a Stakeholder Advisory Board with 24 partners.

• Customer experience improvements raised the airport’s maturity score from 3.73 in 2022 to 4.04 in 2024, with initiatives such as Silent Rooms and enhanced app navigation for visually impaired passengers.

• Under the Advanced Waste Separation Programme, 164 tonnes of waste were sorted daily, with 34.07% recycled, aided by sensor-equipped bins.

• Process improvements targeted the airport’s highest waste producers.

• Water reuse reached 27% of total consumption through reverse osmosis systems supporting circular use.

SIGN ME UP