Transport

It has been even more clear to the Turkish transport industry in the past few years that an improved transit network is crucial to accommodate the nation’s population growth and urban migration. The government has made transportation a priority, and the private sector is responding. Turkish Airlines, the national flagship carrier, has been updating its network to improve the efficacy of both domestic and international connections. Turkey is also carrying this mission out on the ground, building new bridges and roads, and high-speed rail, while in the cities key upgrades are being made to public transport systems. Marine transportation, with collaboration from the private sector, is also being improved through the use of build-operate-transfer contracts. With the pipeline of investments set to tackle dramatic transport challenges, and improved communication between public and private sector, solutions to Turkey’s transport needs appear to be on their way. This chapter has interviews with Binali Yıldırım, the Minister of Transport, Communication and Maritime Affairs; and Temel Kotil, the CEO of Turkish Airlines.