It is an ambitious project with lots of superlatives and at the same time the largest single order in the history of the Liebherr Tower Cranes division: The new Istanbul Airport will be the largest airport in the world with around 150 million passengers passing through it every year from 2020. A total of 58 EC-H series cranes will be used to build the "İstanbul Yeni Havalimanı". The first of these tower cranes were delivered recently and will remain installed at the airport until 2018.
The preparations on the 9,000 hectare site 35 kilometres to the north of the centre of Istanbul started in June 2014. A total of six runways and 165 passenger bridges will be built at the new transport hub. According to the plans, the airport building itself will have a roof which stretches over the halls like a gigantic tent. Skylights at various points will provide daylight to the interior.
For the actual building work, the Turkish contractor İGA Havalimanı İşletmesi A.Ş. decided to use tower cranes from Liebherr and therefore awarded the division the largest single order in the history of the company. 32 cranes of the 280 EC-H 12 Litronic type will work with 16 cranes of the 200 EC-H 10 Litronic type and will be supported by a further ten 154 EC-H 6 Litronic models. The Litronic cranes all have precision high performance drive units and an intelligent crane control system. Both ensure a high level of safety for people and material at hook heights of between 30 and 60 metres with maximum load capacities of up to 12 tonnes each.
"The Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions department has specialised in these complex construction projects and was able to score heavily with a low cost solution for this order", says Rüdiger Boeck, Regional Sales Manager for Eastern Europe and the Bosporus at Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH. In addition to short delivery times which Liebherr was able to guarantee, the service provided by its local partner, Attila Dural Trading Co. Ltd., were the main reasons for winning the order. "We can guarantee 24/7 service for our cranes in cooperation with our partner", says Rüdiger Boeck. "That is extremely important for these construction projects where every day is vital."
You might also be interested in
10/13/2026
Listicles
7 projects that show how varied Tower Crane Solutions projects are around the globe
From the basilica in Barcelona to the airport in Santiago de Chile. The Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions (TCS) department has been involved in some of the world’s most demanding construction projects in recent years. Seven examples show how varied these projects can be around the globe. What all the projects have in common is that they call for individual crane concepts and close collaboration with customers.
10/08/2026
Press releases
Three Liebherr flat-top cranes support the transformation of Milan's Bovisa gasometers
Two early twentieth century gasometers in the Bovisa district of Milan are being redeveloped into a new innovation campus for Politecnico di Milano, based on a master plan by architect Renzo Piano. Since March 2025, three Liebherr flat-top cranes have covered the entire construction site, handling lifting and material handling work across the project.
10/02/2026
Listicles
More experience, more confidence: six questions on the new period of use for Liebherr fibre ropes
Liebherr is increasing the period of use of its fibre ropes to up to 12 years in temperate climates and up to 8 years in hot climates, while the overall service life is rising from 14 to 16 years. But what's behind this decision, and why do all ropes already in the field benefit too? Six questions for Jochen Huber, Product Manager Fibre Technology at Liebherr, on the tests, the impact for customers on site, and the wider strategy behind Fibre technology.