Airport in quake-torn Hatay will stay closed for arrival flights until elections

Quake-torn Hatay province’s Mayor Lütfü Savaş has stated that at least 500,000 voters might not be able to come back to vote because the airport will stay closed until May 17, three days after the elections. Although the government asserted that they had repaired the runway at Hatay Airport following the damages due to the Feb. 6 quakes, the airport is still incapable of accommodating commercial flights for arrival.

Wednesday April 19 2023 02:46 pm

Duvar English

Quake-torn Hatay province’s Mayor Lütfü Savaş has said that the Hatay Airport will stay closed until May 17, three days after the elections, following the damages due to the Feb. 6 quakes.

Savaş told the daily Habertürk’s columnist Sevilay Yılman that 500,000 voters might not be able to come back and vote.

Yılman said on Twitter that “Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş just called. Hatay Airport is closed until May 17. They do not know why. He says they will lose at least 500,000 voters. And this is to the detriment of the (main opposition bloc) Nation Alliance.”

Hatay Belediye Başkanı Lütfü Savaş aradı az önce…

Hatay Havalimanı 17 Mayıs’a kadar kapanmış.

Nedenini bilmiyorlar.

Ve başkan yazımı doğruluyor. Şu an en az 500 bin seçmenimiz yok diyor.

Ve bu Millet İttifakı’nın aleyhine diye de ekliyor.

Bu işe el atılmalı @mansuryavas06 https://t.co/W5g0hBLHCD
— Sevilay Yılman (@sevilayyaziyor) April 18, 2023

On the other hand, the flights from Hatay to other cities are still available.

Even though the government claimed that the runway of Hatay Airport has been repaired after it got damaged during the Feb. 6 quakes, the airport is incapable of handling flights for arrival, according to reporting by online news outlet Diken. Accordingly, the landing of passenger planes at the airport's runway poses a risk.

State Airports Authority (DHMİ) officials stated that the airport cannot serve in its current location and there are plans to build a new airport in a different location.

The airport’s only runway was completely destroyed and split into half in the major earthquakes of Feb. 6.

In the 2018 General Elections, the ruling People’s Alliance recived 50.6% of the votes while Nation Alliance receives 38% in Hatay. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) received 11% of the votes.

Those who belongs Hatay constituency should go to their electoral districts to vote in the elections on May 14. Many voters had to migrate to various provinces after the Feb.6 earthquakes; hence, they rely on transportation.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) executives said that the state must provide free transportation for quake-victims.