Eskişehir Airport

Eskişehir Airport
Name	Eskişehir Airport
Iata	AOE
Icao	LTBI
Type	Public / Military
Owner	General Directorate of State Airports Authority
Operator	DHMI
City-served	Eskişehir, Turkey
Opened	1960s
Elevation-f	2,930
Elevation-m	893
R1-number	13/31
R1-length-f	9,186
R1-length-m	2,800
R1-surface	Asphalt

Eskişehir Airport is a joint public and military aerodrome serving the city of Eskişehir, Turkey. Located northwest of the city center near the Ankara-İzmir motorway, it functions for civil aviation, air force operations, and general aviation training. The field supports regional connectivity for Central Anatolia Region, linking to domestic hubs such as Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Istanbul Airport, and Ankara Esenboğa Airport while coexisting with military units from the Turkish Air Force.

History

The aerodrome traces origins to the 1960s when regional development initiatives by the Republic of Turkey prompted construction to serve Eskişehir Province and adjacent industrial centers like Bursa and Kütahya. During the Cold War era the site hosted units tied to NATO-related maneuvers involving NATO member states and training exchanges with air arms including the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. In the 1980s and 1990s upgrades paralleled national aviation modernization programs overseen by the State Airports Authority (DHMİ) and infrastructure projects associated with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (Turkey). Civil operations expanded in the 2000s with scheduled links to metropolitan nodes driven by carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and AnadoluJet, responding to passenger growth in the Central Anatolia Region. The field has periodically supported disaster response operations for events like the 1999 İzmit earthquake and exercises coordinated with the Gendarmerie General Command and civil protection agencies.

Facilities

The field sits at approximately 893 meters elevation on a single asphalt runway 13/31 capable of handling narrow-body types such as the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737. Terminal facilities provide passenger processing, security screening compliant with standards from the International Civil Aviation Organization, and basic ground handling; apron and taxiway infrastructure permit mixed military–civil operations with designated segregated ramps for units from the Turkish Air Force and visiting NATO aircraft. Fuel services include Jet A-1 supplied under contracts with national fuel suppliers linked to POR‑Energy and other Turkish distributors. Air traffic services are provided through a control tower coordinated with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Turkey), and navigational aids include an instrument landing system aligned with national flight procedures. Maintenance and flight training occur in nearby hangars used by regional flight schools and aviation maintenance firms registered with the Turkish Aeronautical Association.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled services have varied seasonally and by carrier. Major operators that have historically served the airport include Turkish Airlines and AnadoluJet, offering connections to Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Ankara Esenboğa Airport. Low-cost and regional carriers such as Pegasus Airlines have operated charter and scheduled services linking the field with Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Antalya Airport, and occasional routes to Dalaman Airport. Cargo charters and ad hoc cargo flights have connected with freight hubs like Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, supporting manufacturing centers in Eskişehir Province and nearby industrial zones.

Statistics

Passenger throughput has reflected regional economic cycles, with annual figures ranging in the low hundreds of thousands during peak years. Aircraft movements include a mix of scheduled commercial rotations, general aviation sorties, and military sorties from units based in the Central Anatolian Region. Seasonal peaks occur during summer holiday periods tied to connections to Antalya and other leisure destinations. Traffic composition statistics are tracked by the State Airports Authority (DHMİ) and published in aggregated national aviation reports.

Ground transportation

Access to the field is primarily via the D200 and D300 state highways and the Ankara-İzmir motorway, with bus links connecting to Eskişehir city center, the Eskişehir Railway Station, and long-distance coach services serving Ankara and Istanbul. Local transport options include taxi services regulated under the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality bylaws and private shuttle operators coordinating with carriers and hotels. Parking and car rental services are available through national firms such as Avis and Hertz operating in Turkey.

Military and other uses

The aerodrome functions as a base for elements of the Turkish Air Force and provides facilities for joint exercises with NATO partners and civil defense drills with the Turkish Armed Forces. It supports pilot training activities linked to regional flight schools and the Turkish Aeronautical Association as well as aerial firefighting staging during wildfire seasons working alongside the General Directorate of Forestry (Turkey). The site has hosted air shows and civic aviation events organized with local institutions including Eskişehir Osmangazi University and cultural festivals that draw visitors from surrounding provinces.

Category:Airports in Turkey Category:Buildings and structures in Eskişehir Province