Milas Bodrum Airport

Milas-Bodrum Airport is located within the boundaries of Muğla province, one of Türkiye’s most touristically significant regions. The airport is strategically situated between the districts of Milas and Bodrum and also serves Aydın’s tourism centers of Didim and Kuşadası like important. The airport is 32 km from Bodrum, 12 km from Milas, and 82 km from Didim.

The airport is managed by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ), under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye, and is designated with the ICAO code LTFE and IATA code BJV.

History and Operating Rights

Milas-Bodrum Airport was opened for international flights in 1997. The domestic terminal began operations on 30 April 1998, while the international terminal commenced service on 16 May 2012.

TAV Airports won the operating rights in a tender held in March 2014 by submitting the highest bid. It took over operation of the domestic terminal in July 2014 and the international terminal in October 2015. TAV Airports will hold the operating rights for the airport until December 2037.

Infrastructure and Capacity

Milas-Bodrum Airport consists of two terminal buildings:

• Domestic Terminal: 14,686 square meters
• International Terminal: 95,683 square meters

The airport has a capacity to serve 5 million passengers annually.

Terminal Facilities

• Check-in Counters: 66 units
• Passport Control Booths: 18 for departing passengers and 18 for arriving passengers (36 total control points)
• Passenger Boarding Bridges: 8 fixed bridges, 9 mobile passenger bridges, and 2 gates for transit and remote parking
• Baggage Handling System: Four main collection lines with a capacity of 5,000 bags per hour, one automatic sorter, two baggage carousels, an Explosive Detection System (EDS), and five baggage delivery carousels.

Parking and Transportation

The airport features dedicated parking areas for different vehicle types:

• Bus Parking: 12,360 square meters, capacity for 114 buses
• Car Parking: 6,300 square meters, capacity for 287 vehicles
• Staff Parking: 8,000 square meters, capacity for 315 vehicles

Passenger Traffic and Flight Information

Milas-Bodrum Airport attracts significant passenger traffic, particularly during summer months. In the first six months of 2023, the airport served a total of 1,302,000 passengers, including 714,000 on domestic routes and 588,000 on international routes.

Domestic and international flights operate through terminals managed by TAV Airports. The airport is noted as a key entry point for tourists arriving from Europe. International flights that were suspended due to Pandemic resumed in 2023. The first scheduled flight was operated by SunExpress from Hannover, followed by Corendon and Edelweiss Airlines, which began flights to Bodrum from various European destinations.

Tenders and Operating Process

In the tender for operating rights until the end of 2035, TAV Airports submitted the highest bid of 717 million Euros plus VAT and won the contract. Four companies participated in the open bidding process, and TAV secured the concession at the final bid amount of 717 million Euros, following the 105th Türkiye round.

TAV Airports has stated its goal to increase annual passenger traffic to 10–15 million and is developing projects expected to significantly contribute to the region’s international tourism.

Environmental Policies and Developments

Milas-Bodrum Airport prioritizes environmentally friendly initiatives as part of its participation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. As of 2023, work on a Solar Power Plant at the airport is ongoing, during which temporary adjustments were made to certain parking areas.

Milas-Bodrum Airport serves as a vital air transport hub for both domestic and international tourists. Managed by TAV Airports until 2037, the airport is advancing with objectives to increase passenger capacity and develop sustainable projects. Particularly during the summer season, when passenger traffic peaks, the airport is actively working to strengthen international connections and expand the number of direct flights to the region.