Travellers passing through Istanbul Airport have been left
stunned by the sky-high prices of food and drinks, with many dubbing it the
"world's most expensive airport." Passengers have shared their
disbelief over basic food items being sold at exorbitant rates, leaving many
questioning the rationale behind the steep pricing.
According to a report by The Mirror, travellers have
been shocked to find everyday items like a single banana priced at ₹565 (or
£5), and a beer costing ₹1,697 (around £15). Such inflated pricing has caused
passengers to criticize the airport, particularly when compared to more
reasonable food and beverage prices at other international airports.
Istanbul Airport, which serves as a major hub for global air
traffic, handles an average of 220,000 passengers daily. However, despite its
high footfall, the pricing at the airport has raised eyebrows among travellers.
Reports of food items being sold at four times their regular price are
circulating widely. For instance, a 90-gram serving of lasagna, which is often
seen as a budget-friendly meal, is being sold for ₹2,376 (around £21) at the
airport, leaving passengers with a bitter taste, both literally and
figuratively.
One traveller, writing for the Italian newspaper Corriere
della Sera, shared his dismay at the "brick-like" lasagna, which
he described as being far from appetizing despite its hefty price tag. "It
looks more like a piece of brick with a sprinkling of what looks like grated
cheese and a pseudo-basil leaf," he commented, highlighting the stark
contrast between the cost and the quality of the food served.
Not just fine dining or specialty foods—even fast food
chains like McDonald's and Burger King have been criticized for their inflated
prices. While these chains are typically known for offering more affordable
meal options, passengers have reported prices at Istanbul Airport for their
signature dishes being at least two to four times higher than at other
international airports.
One traveller took to Reddit to voice their frustration,
saying, “The prices are more than exaggerated, with all respect to Istanbul,
they are ridiculous. They are from 2 to 4 times higher than at Frankfurt
Airport, my airport of reference, I always fly out of there. Why are the prices
so high? The terminal is just amazing and magnificent, however, the prices
unfortunately made the experience somewhat worse."
Comparisons to other airports have also raised questions
about Istanbul's pricing policies. Another traveller shared their experience of
flying through Dalaman Airport, where a simple meal of two Big Mac meals cost a
staggering 40 euros (₹3,882). "I was in the USA a few days ago, and
LaGuardia and Orlando MCO were quite reasonable on prices as airports go,"
the traveller noted, suggesting that airport pricing isn't universally
inflated.
Critics argue that such steep prices exploit passengers'
limited options at airports, where access to food and drinks is often
restricted to what is available inside the terminal. While some travellers
suggest that Istanbul Airport is able to charge these prices because of the
captive audience, others believe that the high prices undermine the overall
airport experience, even in an otherwise "magnificent" terminal.
As the debate about pricing at Istanbul Airport continues,
many are calling for greater transparency and more affordable food options for
passengers. Until then, travellers can only hope that the "world's most
expensive airport" moniker will be addressed sooner rather than later.