Bursa Yenişehir Airport

Bursa Yenişehir Airport, which began operations in 2000, is a dual-use airport serving both civil and military purposes. Operated by the Directorate General of Airports (DHMİ), under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, this airport provides services for international passenger and cargo traffic. The airport operates 24 hours a day and features a runway wide enough to accommodate large-bodied aircraft for takeoff and landing.

Technical Specifications and Capacity

• Location: Yenişehir district, Bursa
• Opening Date: 2000
• ICAO Code: LTBR
• IATA Code: YEI
• Terminal Area: 12,716 m²
• Apron Capacity: 6 aircraft
• Passenger Capacity: 2,250,000 passengers per year
• Geographic Coordinates: 40°15'22"N, 29°33'43"E

Bursa Yenişehir Airport serves both domestic and international hat flights. Weekly scheduled flights operated by AnadoluJet connect Bursa to Erzurum, Trabzon, Muş, Diyarbakır and Ankara. Additionally, seasonal charter flights operate to destinations in Saudi Arabia (pilgrimage and Umrah), Kuwait and Russia like.

New Routes and Future Plans

To increase passenger capacity and strengthen international connectivity, new flight routes have been established. As of 10 November 2024, round-trip scheduled flights between Bursa and Antalya and Adana-Çukurova have been launched. These flights, initiated in collaboration with SunExpress Airlines, offer significant advantages for Bursa’s tourism and industry sectors.

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey has emphasized the need to expand direct flights from Bursa to Germany and other Europe countries. In this context, efforts are underway to initiate flights to Balkan countries and Europe in the coming period.

The Importance of Bursa Yenişehir Airport

Bursa is one of Türkiye’s most significant cities in terms of both industry and tourism. With its major winter tourism center Uludağ, its historical Ottoman heritage and its industrial production hubs, Bursa possesses substantial potential in air transport. However, until now, Istanbul airports have served as the primary access points for Bursa. The development of Yenişehir Airport will reduce this dependency and position Bursa as a independent air transport hub.

Development Strategies of the Airport

According to statements by the Bursa Culture Tourism and Promotion Union, to reach its desired position in international tourism, the airport’s capacity must be fully utilized. The following strategies have been identified:

1. Opening New Flight Routes: Partnerships with airlines are being established to launch direct flights to Germany and Balkan countries.
2. Promotion of Bursa: Bursa will be promoted at international tourism fairs to increase tourist inflow.
3. Increasing Airport Usage Habits: Awareness campaigns are being conducted to encourage residents of Bursa to prefer Yenişehir Airport for their travel needs.
4. Collaboration with Airlines: Partnerships are being developed between local authorities, tourism sector representatives and airlines to ensure the sustainability of new routes.

Bursa Yenişehir Airport is progressing toward becoming a major transport hub. Currently, in addition to scheduled flights to domestic destinations such as Ankara, Erzurum, Trabzon, Muş and Diyarbakır, regular services have also been launched to tourist regions like Antalya and Adana-Çukurova. In the coming period, the introduction of direct flights to Balkan countries and Europe will transform Bursa into a significant center hub for both tourism and trade. Increased usage of the airport by the local population and expanded international connections will greatly contribute to the economic and tourist development of the region.