Ankara Esenboğa Airport

Ankara Esenboğa Airport is the airport serving Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. Operated by the DHMI (General Directorate of State Airports), the airport handles both domestic and international hat flights. The current terminal building, which entered service in 2006, is notable for its modern infrastructure and high passenger capacity.

• Location: Ankara, Türkiye
• Opening Date: 1955 (Initial opening) – 13 October 2006 (Current terminal building)
• ICAO Code: LTAC
• IATA Code: ESB
• Apron Capacity: 60 aircraft
• Passenger Capacity: 30 million (after development project)
• Geographic Coordinates: 40°0741"N, 032°5942"E

History and Construction

Following Türkiye’s signing of the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, it was decided to construct an international airport in Ankara alongside the existing one in Istanbul Yeşilköy. In this context, an agreement was signed in 1947 between Türkiye and American firms J.C. White and Westinghouse Electric International Corporation. Agreement included the construction of both Yeşilköy and Esenboğa Airports.

Construction of Ankara Esenboğa Airport began in 1951 and it was opened to civil aviation in 1955 as Türkiye’s second fully equipped international airport.

Expansion and Capacity Increase

To respond to increasing passenger traffic, comprehensive modernization projects are underway at Esenboğa Airport. As part of projects scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2025, a third runway is being constructed with the goal of increasing passenger capacity to 30 million.

Planned Developments

• Third Runway: Will increase aircraft landing and takeoff capacity
• New Control Tower and Service Buildings: Will enhance the airport’s operational efficiency
• Terminal Expansion: An additional 40,000 square meters of terminal space will be created
• Special Purpose Vehicle Entry Building and Cargo Development Areas

Under these projects, an investment of approximately 298 million euros is planned, with an expected revenue of 560 million euros over a 25-year operating period without any cost to the state treasury.

Origin of the Name

The name “Esenboğa” dates back to the 1402 Battle of Ankara between the Ottoman and Timurid Empires. One of the commanders in Timur’s army, named İsen Buga, had his name evolve over time into “Esenboğa.” It is stated that the term “İsen Buga” means “happy ox” in Turkish.

Although there have been time discussions over the years about renaming the airport, no official decision has been made to change its name.

Religious Facilities

In 2016, a mosque was built at Esenboğa Airport to allow passengers to perform their prayers. The mosque has been named after Ottoman Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of Türkiye and numerous high-ranking officials.

Ankara Esenboğa Airport is one of Türkiye’s most important transportation hubs and continues to develop through ongoing passenger capacity and infrastructure investment initiatives. Planned in 1947 and construction begun in 1951, the airport was opened in 1955 as Türkiye’s second international airport. Today, it continues to expand through large-scale modernization efforts aimed at increasing passenger capacity.