Turkey: Diyarbakir Airport closed until June 24 for runway maintenance and repairs

Event

Authorities have closed Diyarbakir Airport (DIY) until June 24 in order to facilitate maintenance and repairs on the main runway. An official statement from the governorship specifies that the runway is in urgent need of repair due to increased civilian and military flights. DIY also serves the 8th Main Jet Base Command, which is located at the southeastern end of the airport. Some media reports allege the runway closure is due to damage caused by a suspected Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) drone attack May 19; however, officials claim the drones, which were shot down, failed to cause any damage.

Scheduled flights will be diverted to Batman Airport (BAL) and Mardin Airport (MQM) during the closure. Increased congestion is possible on alternative flights serving BAL and MQM, though this is likely to be mitigated by lower passenger numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advice

Confirm flight availability ahead of travel; arrive at the airport early to prevent your seat being allocated to a standby passenger.