The new Istanbul Airport will be a megahub in the world and locomotive for the Turkish aviation sector, said Ilker Ayci, chairman of the board of directors of Turkish Airlines.

"Turkey will become one of the important centers of the commercial aviation sector in the world," he told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.

The first phase of the airport opened on Oct. 29 and commercial flights started early November.

The airport has the potential to welcome 90 million passengers annually and following the second phase of construction, expected to be completed in 2023, this number will rise to around 200 million.

The airport can serve for 60 airways in the first phase, and 150 airways in the second phase, Ayci said.

"Turkey which is 17th in the world with regards to the number of passengers will be 9th by 2032," he added.

He said the fleet of planes the country owns is expected to reach 700 with the contribution of the new airport.

The flag carrier carried over 36,000 passengers through its three domestic and two international flights via Istanbul Airport during the last month, he noted.

Turkish Airlines will soon start to operate all flights via Istanbul Airport, he said.