The most expensive airport in the world? It is Istanbul. Lasagne for 24.5 euros, beer at 17.5 (and for a big Mac you need 21.5): the story

The hunger is so great, in the late afternoon, that as soon as we overcome the two security checks and customs, we go to the first point that he sells food that we cross at the Istanbul airport, a modern megacostulation, giant and frequented every day by about 220 thousand people departing and coming. The eye falls on a piece of lasagna that appears more a piece of brick with a sprinkling of what looks like grated cheese and a pseudo-based pseudo leaf. But there is little to do the splashes. Hunger is hungry.

The tour in the airport

The « Lasanga Bolonese » – and we are reporting the writing on the label -, weighing about 90 grams, is sold to the modest figure of 24.5 euros. That’s right: twenty -four euros and a half. And there is no risk of having converted badly by Turkish lire because the price is in euros. And here hunger is slowed down by disbelief and, if we want, also by a jolt of patriotic pride. « Excuse me, but isn’t it that there is any comma in the wrong place? », We ask the girl suspicious at the counter. She first looks at us as if we were aliens, then smiles and cuts short: « The price is written, there are 24.5 euros ».

The prices exposed

We look at our gaze, looking for alternatives to more digestible figures, and we focus on gods salted croissants. The one with the pieces of chicken coast 14.5 euros, which go up to 16.5 for the one with the tunaup to 17.5 for that with smoked salmon. Among the salads range from 13 euros for the classic to 16.5 euros with the tuna and 17.5 euros for that with the « Italian chicken ». And more to the right, in the sweets department, here is the Brioche (empty) for 6.5 eurosthat with almonds above 10 euros. Among the drinks there is «Ephes», the typical beer Turkish. The day before, the half -liter bottle in Piazza Taksim – in the heart of the former Constantinople – paid for about 1.5 euros. At the « Avenue Cafe & Bistro » of the Turkish Scalo Costa 17.5. The increase, calculator in hand, is 1,067%.

« They exploit needs »

Welcome to the most expensive airport in the world. Where everything, even in the « safe refuges » – that is, fast food – is sold to stratospheric figures. And without an apparent reason if not that, as Dalia says – 35 -year -old Lebanese, three children, waiting for the flight to Germany – to « exploit the physiological needs of people since something will also have to eat or drink it ». « It is a grip for the …! », Complaining Francesco, returning to Italy with his girlfriend. « In this stop there are prices that make the hair stand up that I hope to get back soon », ironically another – which does not want to give the name – with the signs of the bulbs just grafted in the head.

Similar values ​​everywhere

The feeling, turning for about three hours in the brand new airport – with a pleasant but very far from the city design – is that wherever you go there is a « cartel » to keep the prices of food products on the stars. Thus we abandon the « Avenue Cafe & Bistro » – accompanied by the polemical gaze of the girl at the counter – and we stop at the « Del Aux Pain » where it attracts us Fiji water bottle. Cost: 9 euros. We run away. To stop in the other store that has the prices in local currency. A sandwich with the salami with 590 Turkish lire (14.2 euros), one Empty brioches for 7 euros.

The salad at 11 euros

Let’s try to investigate elsewhere. And in a drinks of drinks they stand S. Pellegrino water bottles from a quarter of a liter to 6 euros. Here too escape is the only understandable reaction. And we cross a shop that sells pre -packaged sushi trays. Like the « Top Hits », 14 pieces in all, for 35 euros. We move away from the shopping area and get closer to the boarding gates. They appear in the distance of the salted croissants. The one with the emmenthal and a little tomato is sold to 640 Turkish lire, 15.4 euros. On another side for the Mediterranean salad – from 210 grams – 465 Turkish lire (11.2 euros) are needed.

In fast food

It starts to look like a mockery too. So we climb upstairs, where there are fast food, including international ones and which everywhere, in the world, are the places with the most convenient food. But there is no escape even here. From « Popeyes » four fried chicken wings with Coca-Cola and fries are cost 17.5 euros. From McDonald’s for a « big Mac » you need 21.5 euros (890 Turkish lire), Beyond double the average values ​​in the rest of the western world (8.60 euros). The « Double Quarter Pounder » menu which is located at 13 euros at the Istanbul airport in the USA is offered for € 25.3. From Burger King for a whopper you need 22 euros, against the 9 euros usually requested in western countries.

Record cafeteria

Let’s try to see the prices from Starbucks, a well -known American cafeteria chain. And here too the values ​​are on average double compared to what is found, for example, in Italy. If a small (double) espresso is sold for 2.3 euros in Istanbul you have to pay 5.5 euros. For a small white one jumps from 5.2 euros of the western markets to the 8 euros of the Turkish airport. Suddenly the idea of ​​buying the entrance to the lounge comes to mind. Usually in Europe access to the VIP rooms costs between 35 and 55 euros. And in Istanbul? With theIga Pass daily serve 110 euros, taxes included. A record, this too.

The investigation in the autumn

The « dear life » in the Turkish airport had emerged in an investigation by Courier of the past autumn. The Management Company – Iga Havalimanı İşletmesi – had not liked the article too much. So much so that in the following days, some sources explain, has started a sort of internal investigation to understand who had spoken with this newspaper, revealing above all the high concession costs (a billion euros).

The reaction of the company

« We adopt a holistic approach to our offers of food and drinks, trying to provide a diversified range of concepts and products under the same roof to satisfy various budget levels », replies by e-mail a spokesperson for the management company of the Istanbul airport. « Our price policy is mainly guided by comparisons with the main global airports, including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dubai, Frankfurt and London Heathrow, » he adds. It specifies that « according to our analyzes, Istanbul airport behaves significantly better than many of its international approval in providing the basic needs of passengers ». In fact, given in hand, it is not quite so.

« With us premium qualities »

So half a admission. « Although some products may have higher prices based on the category – reads the long response -, this price reflects not only the cost of the product itself, but also the overall experience and the added value that accompanies it ». What is the « overall experience » or the « added value that accompanies it » is not known. « Our vending machines offer sandwiches for 3 euros, » recalls the spokesperson. «The airport offers a wide variety of culinary options designed to satisfy the tastes and preferences of our international travelers. The price of these articles reflects both the premium quality of the ingredients and the costs associated with supply and preparation ».

The non -public budget

« All prices are subject to the approval of Istanbul airport, » clarifies again. Adding that « regular checks are carried out with a frequency at least four times a month ». When the Courier He asks for the financial data of the management company, with a focus on revenues in 2024 deriving from « food and beverage », the company however replies that « because of commercial confidentiality, we are unable to disseminate them ». As for our tour, in the end – exhausted and increasingly hungry – we declare ourselves defeated. We return to the McDonald’s where we buy 4 chicken wings, a coca-cola and chips. Price? 610 Turkish lire, 14.7 euros.