Turkish investment in Central Romanian airport

Published: 10/5/1999

Turkish company, Bayindir is considering a project to build an international airport in Brasov in Central Romania. Under the proposal, the company would build and operate the airport for several years before handing it back to local authorities. The company operates the airport in Antalya in southern Turkey under such an arrangement. Levent Yurukoglu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Banca Turco Romana, which is 65% owned by Bayindir, said that, during recent discussions, President Constantinescu had been supportive of the proposal. Yurukoglu acknowledged the difference in scale between Antalya, which has around 400 flights a week, compared to Brasov's 40, but insisted that there was considerable potential for an airport, given the poor state of Romanian roads and infrastructure. In addition, ski-resorts close to Brasov and the surrounding cities could help generate more international tourists and business travellers to the area.

Article ID: 940