Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski has predicted an increase in air traffic over Bulgaria by around 50% as a result of the opening of the Istanbul New Airport, ?stanbul Yeni Havaliman?.

Speaking Monday at the opening of the 54th Annual Conference of International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations (IFATCA), Moskovski noted hat the Istanbul New Airport was expected to be one of the largest in the world and to service around 150 million passengers a year.

He said that it would have six runways and four terminals, adding that there would be an opportunity to increase its capacity to nearly 200 million passengers a year, according to reports of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

Bulgaria’s Transport Minister made clear that the new airport, which was to replace the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, was located north of the European part of the city between Yenik?y and Akp?nar.

Moskovski also predicted an increase in the jobs for air traffic controllers by 40-60% over the next two years.

He said that over 1700 flights crossed Bulgarian territory per 24 hours and in the busiest periods their number reached 3000.

Moskovski argued that airline transportation remained the safest way to travel regardless of the increased frequency of incidents lately.

The event is organized by the Bulgarian Association of Air Traffic Controllers and will continue until April 24 in Sofia.

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Associations represents over 540 000 air traffic controllers from 131 countries.