Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Antalya Airport will begin operating with the advanced air traffic control system known as the “Advanced ATC Tower” as of May 18, 2026.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Antalya Airport will begin operating with the advanced air traffic control system known as the “Advanced ATC Tower” as of May 18, 2026. Minister Uraloğlu stated, “As a result of intensive efforts carried out between the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) and EUROCONTROL Network Manager, our Antalya Airport will become the first Turkish airport integrated into the European air traffic network with the Advanced ATC Tower concept.”
Real-Time Information Transfer
The Advanced ATC Tower system enables operational information generated in the air traffic control tower to be transferred to the EUROCONTROL system in real time, Uraloğlu said, “We will be able to transmit critical operational data such as pushback, taxiing, runway use, departure sequence, and actual departure time directly to the European air traffic network. In this way, dynamic traffic management will be ensured based on real operational data rather than relying solely on flight plan data.”
The ATC-DPI (Air Traffic Control – Departure Planning Information) messages will be sent via a B2B (business-to-business) connection with EUROCONTROL, Uraloğlu said this technical integration infrastructure will enable secure and automatic information exchange between the systems of the two institutions without the need for human intervention.
Uraloğlu stated that ATC-DPI messages will allow up-to-date information on aircraft departure operations to be transferred to the EUROCONTROL Network Manager system, he also added, “Thanks to this system, the operational management of flights within the European air traffic network will be carried out more accurately, dynamically, and based on real-time data. Especially during the busy summer season, we will manage the traffic flow at Antalya Airport more effectively, efficiently, and in a more coordinated manner.”
The Advanced ATC Tower implementation represents an important transformation from the traditional flight plan-based structure to dynamic air traffic management based on real operational data, Uraloğlu said the system will contribute to more effective management of flight delays, improvement of traffic flow management, and strengthening of operational coordination between airlines and air traffic control units.
Antalya Will Become One of Europe’s Leading Centers in Air Traffic Management
Uraloğlu said they expect Antalya Airport, which handles one of Europe’s busiest tourism and charter operations, to become one of the airports operating one of the largest and busiest Advanced ATC Tower systems in Europe as a result of the ongoing work, adding that Antalya will become one of Europe’s leading centers in air traffic management.
Domestic and National Digital Infrastructure Will Ensure Continuous Information Flow
Minister Uraloğlu noted that the domestic and national EFS/DCL (Electronic Flight Strip / Digital Air Traffic Controller Clearance Delivery) infrastructure, developed in cooperation with DHMI and TÜBİTAK, has been integrated at a more advanced level with EUROCONTROL systems thanks to the Advanced ATC Tower system.
Uraloğlu stated that the EFS/DCL infrastructure is actively used at 35 airports across Türkiye as of today, Uraloğlu also included the following remarks in his statement:
“The EFS system enables air traffic controllers to track operational information about flights in a digital environment. DCL, on the other hand, makes it possible to carry out departure clearance processes digitally. Thanks to this system, the operational information flow required for the Advanced ATC Tower application is also ensured without interruption.”
“We Continue to Equip Our Airports with National Software”
Uraloğlu noted that Türkiye has made a significant technological leap in civil aviation with national software and hardware. Uraloğlu said the goal is to complete EFS installation and training at all airports in a short time. Uraloğlu said, “We continue to equip our airports with national software. In this way, the real-time and operation-based integration of Türkiye’s air traffic management infrastructure with the European air traffic network will be significantly strengthened.”
Certification Work Continues at Two More Airports
Uraloğlu stated that certification work for the Advanced ATC Tower is also continuing at Ankara Esenboğa and İzmir Adnan Menderes airports, adding that the aim is for these airports to receive their certifications and begin operations within 2026.
