By Nasriah HJ Darus

ISTANBUL, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The new terminal at Istanbul's Sabiha Gocken International Airport (SGIA), in which Malaysia Airlines Holdings Bhd (MAHB) holds a 20 per cent stake, is expected to start its commercial operations on Nov 9.

MAHB senior general manager of operations, Datuk Azmi Murad, said nine trials had been conducted since Sept 26 involving ground handling, flight information display, baggage system, communication systems and boarding gates and the systems are ready.

"On Nov 9, we will operate the new terminal with only three airlines and we will monitor the performance before deciding on the next phase of the transfer," he told Malaysian journalists at a press conference prior to the official opening of the terminal this coming Saturday, Oct 31.

He said the present terminal handled 17 domestic and 51 international flights with 6.1 million passengers this year.

"The full migration would be based on the performance on Nov 9 when we commence first commercial operation here. We see how it performs. If eveything is smooth, runs well, we will decide on that day, when to shift all the other airlines operating in the current terminal to the new terminal," he said.

Azmi said SGIA's growth rate between 2006 and 2009 was on average about 30 per cent annually. The new terminal is expected to handle 25 million passenger by 2023.

"As you are aware, Turkey has a very strong tourism product ad their economy are also very strong. I believed in matter of time that the building will reach it capacity. It is built to meet the future demand," he said.

MAHB is to provide expertise in the area of operation and management of the airport, he said.

Azmi said MAHB had assigned a number of its experienced personnel to the SGIA to assist in the operations, technical and financial matters of the airport.

MAHB has paid about RM80 million for it 20 per cent stake in the project, RM25 million of which was settled in 2008.

SGIA, the second airport in Istanbul, is on the Asian side of the bicontinental city. The airport covers an area of 3,300 acres and its development comprises the construction of a new terminal building with a total area of 180,000 sq m. The development work also included a four-storey car park building with 4,718 parking lots and a six-storey hotel.

-- BERNAMA