iGA Istanbul Airport partners with Plug and Play to delve into the future of airports

VIENNA, AUSTRIA, January 22, 2024 - In a strategic move to strengthen the airport’s innovation processes and technological infrastructure, iGA Istanbul Airport has partnered with Plug and Play, the world's leading innovation platform, specializing in startup collaborations and corporate innovation. iGA Istanbul Airport joined Plug and Play’s industry verticals in Istanbul and Vienna. The latter is specialized in Travel and Hospitality, marking a significant step for iGA Istanbul Airport towards fostering aviation-related innovations. The collaboration aims to position iGA Istanbul Airport as a global hub for cutting-edge technological advancements, solidifying its status as a pioneer in the aviation industry.

Selahattin Bilgen, Acting CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating "With this partnership, we will take our airport even further in technology by focusing on the ideas and needs of our employees. As iGA Istanbul Airport, we are determined to take more innovative steps and be ready for the future with this exciting cooperation.”

The goal is to support the culture of innovation at iGA Istanbul Airport, bringing technology initiatives to Istanbul. Bilgen said, "It will add great value to our Airport, meeting the Airport's technology needs from an innovative perspective, encouraging intra-company entrepreneurship and sustainable development, and implementing new ideas at iGA Istanbul Airport.”

Since it was established, iGA Istanbul Airport has consistently demonstrated a commitment to embracing technological transformation and elevating the passenger experience. By partnering up with Plug and Play Travel and Hospitality, iGA Istanbul Airport seeks to harness the power of disruptive technologies, startups, and industry collaborations to drive innovation across various facets of airport operations. By leveraging Plug and Play's knowledge, iGA Istanbul Airport will establish an innovation and entrepreneurship organization. Plug and Play serves as a dynamic ecosystem, connecting industry leaders with innovative startups to co-create solutions that address the evolving needs of the aviation sector.

On October 19th, iGA Istanbul Airport participated in Selection Day at the AirportCity Space at Vienna Airport, where one of Plug and Play’s Travel and Hospitality programs is based. The event gave the start to the yearly program built around corporate-startup collaborations. The setting was designed to connect major airports, airlines, alliances, and travel industry corporations to startups and scale-ups to foster their digital transformation with various innovation initiatives.

Nik Munaretto, Director of Plug and Play Austria commented “By joining our Travel and Hospitality vertical in Vienna, iGA Istanbul Airport is demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering innovation in the aviation industry. This collaboration is a great example of how airports can work together to explore cutting-edge solutions that will shape the future of airport operations and enhance the overall passenger experience. We believe that by joining forces, airports can share knowledge, learn from each other’s experiences, and work towards a common goal of making the entire industry better as a whole.”

About iGA Istanbul Airport:

iGA Istanbul Airport is a leading global airport operator committed to providing world-class services and experiences to travelers. It was constructed in a record time of 42 months and is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Turkey. It serves an estimated 90 million passengers annually, with a main terminal of 1.4 million square meters, three independent runways, an air control tower, and support facilities. In the four years since it began operations, iGA Istanbul Airport has welcomed more than 250 million passengers and now offers flights to 315 destinations around the world. Once all construction phases are complete, iGA Istanbul Airport will offer flights to more than 350 destinations with an annual passenger capacity of 200 million. As one of the busiest airports in the world, iGA Istanbul Airport serves as a key gateway between Europe and Asia, and the partnership with Plug and Play underscores its dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry.

https://www.istairport.com/en/

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 50+ locations across 5 continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit:

https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

About Plug and Play Istanbul

The Plug and Play İstanbul office was launched in 2021, with Mobility and IoT being its first and we are working to launch Smart Cities as a second vertical. With our 6 corporate partners, we are building an inclusive ecosystem to foster the collaboration and exchange of experiences among corporations, startups, and institutions. For more information visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/istanbul/

About Plug and Play Vienna

Plug and Play Vienna is the ultimate innovation platform, bringing together the best startups, investors, and the world’s largest corporations. Its vibrant office in Vienna, conveniently located at the Vienna International Airport, offers an easy "fly-in and make business" opportunity. With an extensive network of partners in the Travel & Aviation industry, Vienna has become a reference point for innovation in the industry. For more information, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/vienna/

Media Contact:

Plug and Play Vienna

Email: vienna@pnptc.com

Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/press/