The hallmark of any capital in the world is the airport. This is not surprising. The first structure that impressed those arriving in the country is, of course, the air terminal building and conditions created therein. That is why nine years ago a decision was taken to build a new international airport terminal in Ashgabat that would meet all modern requirements. That was not at all accidental that the issue of choosing a possible builder was in favor of the Turkish Company “Polimeks”, which by that time had established itself as one of the best construction companies in Turkmenistan.

It took the builders about three years to create an ultra-modern world-class air terminal complex. The new international-level terminal was designed in the shape of a Lachin bird (falcon) with the spread wings. The building was constructed of steel structures and glass, and is faced with white stone, which fascinates with its beauty.

There are thirty telescopic gates within the airport, which serve passengers for passage to the aircraft, and from the aircraft back to the terminal building. The terminal occupies an area of more than 160 thousand square meters, and it is about fifty meters high and about seventy meters long.

The airport of Ashgabat is capable of handling more than 14 million passengers annually, for which 1800 aviation specialists are employed. There are elevators and escalators in the building for the convenience of passengers. There are information systems in different languages, as well as cooling and heating systems. Passengers are offered comfortable waiting and check-in lounges, Internet cafes, post offices, public telephones, car rental and hotel reservation offices, ATMs, left-luggage posts, cafeterias and restaurants.

On the second floor of the magnificent building is the departure area, and the third floor has the arrival area. The fourth floor is designated for hotel rooms. From the lounges, passengers can watch the takeoff and landing of aircrafts. Playgrounds are intended for the youngest passengers. As soon as people got the opportunity to try out the new architectural complex in action, they soon began to call it nothing less than the pearl of the East. Indeed, such magnificence is rarely seen anywhere.

Among other things, the builders constructed and reconstructed 3800 meters long runways, equipped according to the second ICAO category, and a platform capable of handling airplanes of all types.

New taxiways, parking spaces and platforms for aircrafts, air traffic control services and 72 meters high control tower have been arranged.

The total area of the site where the airport complex is located is 1200 hectares.

In addition, a school for training aviation personnel was built, where 600 people are trained at the same time, as well as a training complex for crews, medical, sports and recreation centers, and an aviation museum.

The Ashgabat International Airport was issued a special certificate (RA3) by the National Civil Aviation Authority of Germany, which inspects and certifies airports and airline companies on behalf of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This document confirms that the cargo terminal of the Ashgabat International Airport fully complies with all aviation security requirements for the transportation of goods and mail.

At present, in addition to the airplanes of the fleet of the local airline company “Turkmenhowayollary”, the airport also serves planes of foreign countries that carry out both passenger and cargo transportation.

The new airport of Ashgabat, by the decision of the World Record Academy, twice became the world record holder as the largest building in the shape of a bird (falcon) and for the widest wingspan of a symbolic falcon.

In 2016, the international airport complex was included in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to the largest image of patterns (705 square meters) that adorned the main passenger terminal.

The Ashgabat Airport can be surely called the pearl of the East.