Turkish Opposition Claims Treasury Paying Millions for Underused Zafer Airport Amidst Passenger Guarantee Shortfall

Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, a Member of Parliament from Turkey's main opposition party CHP, has raised serious concerns regarding public funds allocated to Zafer Airport, alleging a massive payment from the Treasury to a private company due to drastically low passenger numbers.

“

Do the AKP officials who prepared and approved the feasibility reports for Zafer Airport have diplomas?

Citing reports from the Court of Accounts and official statistics from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ), Yavuzyılmaz highlighted a significant shortfall in passenger traffic for the first four months of 2026. According to her data, the guaranteed number of departing passengers was 439,244, while the actual number was only 15,380. This results in a discrepancy of 424,206 passengers, representing a failure rate of 96.57%.

This substantial gap, Yavuzyılmaz claims, obligates the Treasury to pay the operating company approximately 2.2 million euros in guaranteed payments. She stated this amount, equivalent to 119 million Turkish lira at current exchange rates, amounts to "siphoning off" public funds. "This is called connecting a hose to the Treasury," she asserted, adding that it represents 96.57% of public resources going to a "favored company" while only 3.43% benefits the public.

“

This is called connecting a hose to the Treasury.

Yavuzyılmaz also questioned the qualifications of the officials who prepared and approved the airport's feasibility reports during the AKP era. "Do the AKP officials who prepared and approved the feasibility reports for Zafer Airport have diplomas?" she asked, implying a lack of competence or oversight in the project's initiation and management. The lawmaker shared these findings under the heading "Facts that the AKP is trying to keep from the public's attention - 53."

“

representing 96.57% of public resources going to a 'favored company' while only 3.43% benefits the public.