TAV Airports has started operations of the Milas-Bodrum Airport Domestic Terminal in one of the major tourism destinations of Turkey. TAV will now operate the airport until 2035.

TAV Airports, Turkey's global brand in airport operations, has taken over operations of the domestic terminal of the 14th airport it has added to its portfolio.

Following the signing of the concession agreement with DHMI (State Airports Authority), TAV has immediately begun operating the terminal. TAV will also be taking over the International Terminal on September 22nd, 2015.

TAV submitted the best offer, €717 million (US$963 million), in the tender process on 21 March 2014.

Four companies, YDA ?n?aat, TAV Airports, a consortium of German airport operator Fraport, which is also in charge of Antalya airport in Turkey, and local firm IC ?çta?, which will build and operate the third Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul, had submitted offers for the tender held by DHMI in March.

Milas-Bodrum Airport connects one of Turkey's most significant tourism centers to the rest of the world, with the current number of annual passengers exceeding 3.5 million. We will be transferring our know-how, gained through operating 14 airports in seven countries, to Bodrum. We believe that Bodrum will become the fourth largest city in Turkey within the next 15 to 20 years. With the experience and network that it currently possesses, TAV will comfortably increase the number of passengers to 10-15 million within the operation period. It will be easier for us to launch direct flights to Bodrum from major centers around the world if local tourism, hotel investors and the city get prepared for it. We are confident that Bodrum will develop further thanks to the natural, cultural and historical heritage it possesses.

As one of the busiest airports in the Aegean Region of Turkey, Milas-Bodrum opened to international traffic in 1997. The airport is located within the borders of Mu?la Province and between Milas and Bodrum, two important cities of the ancient Caria region. In addition to Mu?la, it plays a major role in transportation to other tourism centers such as Didim, Ku?adas? and Söke in Ayd?n. The airport is located only 32 km from Bodrum, 12 km to Milas and 82 km to Didim.

Milas-Bodrum Airport served a total of 1.3 million passengers during the first half of this year; 714,000 passengers at the Domestic Terminal and 588,000 at the International Terminal.