iGA İstanbul Airport and Yapı Kredi Leasing Sign Financing Partnership for Water Management: Investment to Eliminate Dependence on Munıcipal Water Supply to be Completed in 2027

iGA Istanbul Airport has signed a financing partnership with Yapı Kredi Leasing for its “Reverse Osmosis Plant” project, representing a total investment of €60 million and set to become one of the largest projects undertaken to date in Türkiye in the field of water resource conservation. The project, to be implemented under the partnership signed at COP31, where iGA Istanbul Airport is participating as a “Climate Supporter”, aims to meet the airport’s water needs through reclaimed resources.

Having implemented exemplary sustainability practices on a global scale, İGA Istanbul Airport has entered into a partnership with Yapı Kredi Leasing to finance its “Reverse Osmosis Plant” investment, which will be among the largest projects undertaken to date in Türkiye in the field of water resource conservation.

The signing ceremony for the financing to be provided by Yapı Kredi Leasing for the project, which has a total investment value of €60 million, was held during the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, where İGA is participating as a “Climate Supporter”. The ceremony was attended by İGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen and Yapı Kredi Leasing General Manager Fatih Torun.

Annual production of 7 million cubic metres of water from seawater

As part of the project, which will be implemented in line with iGA Istanbul Airport’s objectives of conserving water resources and ensuring sustainable water management, seawater sourced from the Black Sea will be converted into water for general use through advanced treatment technologies. The water obtained will be made available to all institutions and organisations operating within iGA Istanbul Airport. The project, targeted for completion by the end of 2027, aims to reduce the airport’s dependence on the municipal water supply and strengthen its water security.

The facility is initially planned to have an annual production capacity of 7 million cubic metres of water for general use, with the aim of increasing its capacity to 18 million cubic metres in the future. Expected to be among Türkiye’s largest seawater supply projects in terms of water provision for general use, the investment will contribute to the conservation of natural water resources while also enhancing iGA Istanbul Airport’s operational resilience against risks arising from climate change and water stress.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, iGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen commented on the project as follows: “At iGA Istanbul Airport, guided by our vision ‘Our Focus is the World, Our Goal is the Future’, we believe we can achieve growth while protecting our planet. From renewable energy to circular water management, we are shaping the future of aviation today in every area. With this historic step we are taking today, we are not only providing a solution to iGA Istanbul Airport’s water needs, but also presenting a sustainable model that will inspire the global aviation industry and our country’s approach to resource management. The greatest environmental benefit of our Seawater Supply Project will be the elimination of our airport’s dependence on the municipal water supply, thereby protecting the region’s natural water basins and groundwater resources for future generations. In this way, we will also maximise our operational resilience against potential water stress risks brought about by climate change.”

Yapı Kredi Leasing General Manager Fatih Torun made the following statement: “At Yapı Kredi Leasing, we operate with great sensitivity towards our planet, our natural resources and their conservation. We always prioritise projects involving climate and water investments, renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as those that contribute to a low-carbon economy. In 2022, we became the first institution in Türkiye to secure a loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) under financing for water conservation. In addition, in 2026, we became the leasing company to receive the largest loan focused on water. In this context, through our cooperation on the seawater supply project that iGA Istanbul Airport will undertake to conserve water resources, we are contributing to the sustainable management of natural water resources. The sustainability approach of Yapı Kredi and Koç Holding, together with their commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, serves as a very important guide for us. In the future, we aim to expand the impact of the blue and green transition in our country on a broader scale.”

iGA Istanbul Airport strengthens its pioneering water efficiency practices with the new investment

Continuing its efforts towards the efficient use and recovery of water resources, iGA Istanbul Airport meets 42% of its water consumption through reclaimed sources thanks to its facilities. The recovered water is used in landscape irrigation and cooling systems.

As the first airport in Türkiye to qualify for the TSE ISO 46001 Water Efficiency Management System Certificate and the Blue Water Efficiency Certificate, iGA Istanbul Airport also achieved an A score in the CDP Water Security Programme in 2025, gaining international recognition for its work in this field.

With the new investment, iGA Istanbul Airport aims to take its water efficiency practices implemented to date one step further, strengthening the airport’s long-term water security and making a greater contribution to the conservation of freshwater resources.

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IstanbulAirportPR@havas.com