The evaluation of 2018 and the targets for 2019 were discussed at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's "Traditional Transport Reporters Meeting."
The meeting held at the Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) was attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mehmet Cahit Turhan, Deputy Ministers Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, Selim Dursun, Enver İskurt, and BTK President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu, as well as numerous press members.
Minister Turhan answered journalists' questions on a wide range of topics, from the train accident in Ankara to cyber attacks. He stated that the signaling works on the line where the train accident occurred would be completed by the end of February, and the works between Ankara-Kayaş by the end of March.
Speaking about Istanbul Airport, Turhan said that flights were operated to 5 destinations in the first months from the airport, which opened on October 29, 2018. He noted that flights are currently being made to 19 destinations. Expressing that flights are increasing every day, Turhan also conveyed that the relocation processes for the companies that will operate there are ongoing. He stated that the relocation would be completed in March of this year and that THY is accelerating its move to its own facilities.
Minister Turhan: PTT Participation Bank Feasibility Studies Continue
In response to a question about PTT establishing a participation bank, Turhan stated that feasibility studies on Postal Participation Banking are ongoing to use existing workplaces more efficiently and effectively. He said that the necessary permission from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has not yet been granted.
Answering questions about cyber attacks, Minister Turhan pointed out that, due to the nature of the internet, hiding the source in cyber attacks is quite easy, and attack sources can be misleading. He noted that sectors such as finance, aviation, and health institutions are usually targeted in attacks, stating that approximately 56,000 cyber attacks are prevented annually. Turhan stated that the teams at USOM work 24/7 to prevent cyber attacks.