Experiences to repeat and share

“Our vision is to give passengers from all around the world an experience they will simply want to repeat and share with friends, family and business colleagues,” he says.

“Turkish cuisine is world renowned and we want the food experience at Istanbul Airport to reflect this history and heritage.”

To help realise this goal, Tum & İçtur will work with nationally known brands and more local Istanbul restaurants, and Karakaş says the company is “passionate and excited” about these opportunities.

He adds: “We plan to work with experts from all around the world, who share our sense of enthusiasm and passion to make Istanbul Airport a spectacle of food and the best in the world.

“Our concept selection for the airport is an impressive line-up of ‘first to Turkey’ brands, international brands, local brands and unique bespoke brands all developed from exceptional partnerships with some of the world’s and region’s most iconic culinary heroes.”

A range of concepts are performing well so far, according to Karakaş. “Grab & go, fine dining restaurants, Turkish food, Sushi restaurants, pubs and food courts are working very well, showing that our F&B operators are doing exceptional work.

“The first six months shows us this is only the beginning. In the near future, once our subway system is fully active and operating, we believe turnover will be even higher than today.”

A key part of the F&B offer is the design and atmosphere, which falls in line with the overarching look of the airport itself, which Karakaş says boasts a “contemporary yet functional structure” but with unique characteristics.

The architecture reflects the already rich social and cultural heritage of the global city of Istanbul, he explains. “Since the terminal design is inspired by the magnificence of Istanbul, the architectural richness of Istanbul’s mosques, baths, domes and many other historical structures have been incorporated. Motifs derived from Turkish-Islamic art and architecture provide beauty, texture and depth to the project.”

The excellent range of F&B units and the spectacular design are key elements – so too is the imperative to keep pricing consistent and fair.

“We are very sensitive about the daily business and we haven’t had any complaints so far about pricing,” he says. “Our menus are very competitive with other airports, both locally and internationally.”

As well as fine tuning the existing strategy and offer, Karakaş has also set his sights on the next steps in building the reputation of the F&B offer at Istanbul Airport.