Giresun Airport

Army-Giresun Airport is Türkiye’s and Europe’s first airport built over the sea. This airport, made available for the use of the provinces of Ordu and Giresun, is a transportation infrastructure investment for Black Sea Region through important. Construction of the airport began in 2011 and was completed with an investment cost of approximately 360 million lira. The project, notable as the third airport in the world constructed using reclamation, was designed to meet the region’s air transport needs.

The airport was inaugurated on 22 May 2015 in a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. During the opening speeches, it was emphasized that this airport would bring significant economic and tourist benefits to the Black Sea Region.

Ordu-Giresun Airport is operated by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ). The official codes of the airport are as follows:

• ICAO Code: LTCB
• IATA Code: OGU
• Year of Commissioning: 2015
• Traffic Type: Domestic and international flights
• Terminal Building Area: 20,250 m²
• Geographic Coordinates: 40°58'02"N - 38°04'55"E
• Province and District: Ordu, Gülyalı district

Ordu-Giresun Airport is a fully civilian airport, serving both domestic hat and international flights.

Ordu-Giresun Airport is the third airport in the world constructed over the sea using reclamation. It is also the first of its kind in Europe and Türkiye.

• The project, initiated in 2011, was completed after approximately four years of intensive work.
• Thirty-six million tons of stone were used for the reclamation.
• During reclamation operations, trucks made 950,000 trips to transport stone.
• Runway Length: 3,000 metres
• Runway Width: 45 metres
• Apron Capacity: Designed to accommodate six aircraft simultaneously.
• The terminal building was constructed to provide modern passenger comfort.

Airports built over the sea are projects requiring specialized engineering and necessitate careful consideration of environmental conditions. Wave movements, wind effects, and the impact of seawater on structural elements were analyzed in detail and integrated into the project design.

The inauguration of Ordu-Giresun Airport took place on 22 May 2015. Attendees included President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Customs and Trade Minister Nurettin Canikli, and numerous state officials.

In his inauguration speech, President Erdoğan emphasized that this project was a long-awaited investment and that it strengthened the aviation infrastructure of the Black Sea Region. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated that the airport would provide economic and social benefits to the region.

Minister of Customs and Trade Nurettin Canikli noted that the airport project had been on the agenda fifty years earlier but had not been implemented until, in 2010, President Erdoğan’s directive accelerated the process.

The first aircraft to land at the airport was a scheduled flight by Turkish Airlines (THY) from Istanbul. The aircraft, carrying 136 passengers, demonstrated that the airport was ready for service. After the inauguration, THY, Pegasus, and other airlines commenced regular flights.

Ordu-Giresun Airport has enhanced the region’s trade and tourism potential. It has accelerated processes in hazelnut production and export, contributing to the region’s economic development.

Specifically:

• It has revitalized tourism in the region, increasing the number of domestic and foreign tourists, especially during summer months.
• It has facilitated air access for businesses, attracting investors.
• It has reduced travel times along the Black Sea coast, enhancing integration with Istanbul and other major cities.

• It has increased air traffic in the Black Sea region.
• It has raised passenger capacity by increasing interest in air transport in provinces such as Ordu and Giresun.
• It has provided an important engineering contribution to Türkiye’s aviation infrastructure, paving the way for similar future projects.

Ordu-Giresun Airport has entered history as one of Türkiye’s most important aviation projects. Its construction over the sea along the Black Sea coast is regarded as a major achievement in both engineering and transportation terms.

• It has delivered significant economic and commercial benefits to the region.
• It has strengthened the air transport infrastructure of the Black Sea.
• It stands as a project that can serve as a global reference among airports built over water.

Today, Ordu-Giresun Airport continues to operate with open access to domestic and international flights and remains one of the most important airports in the Black Sea Region.