ISG, the Malaysian-owned operator of Sabiha Gökçen, Istanbul’s second-largest airport, is requesting financial relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reported.
The company is close to reaching an agreement with the government, Reuters said on Tuesday citing a top company official.
ISG, owned by Malaysia Airport Holdings, won a 20-year contract to operate the airport in May 2008 for 1.93 billion euros ($2.01 billion). By October 2009, it had built a new terminal building to increase passenger capacity.
“We are discussing with the government some forms of relief due to the pandemic,” Mohammad Nazli Abdul Aziz, executive director of ISG, told Reuters.
Abdul Aziz said the pandemic cut passengers to about half of its 35.5 million in 2019. Data for May shows it is finally back on track and recovering toward those levels this year, he said.
“We have been getting a very good response and cooperation. And we’re happy to note that the government takes care of our concern very well,” Abdul Aziz said in an interview.
ISG is focused on securing the benefits that other airports obtained to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the airports operate under a different authority, which has already secured relief for them, Reuters said.
Possible aid may include an extension of the agreement, a revision in payments and a rebate, Abdul Aziz said.
Ahval