Passengers check the status of flights at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday following a deadly blast the day before.Gokhan Tan/Getty Images
The terrorist attack on Ataturk Airport in Istanbul underscores the geographic risks for carriers that have placed big bets on international routes.
The largest impact will be on Turkish Airlines, though it is unclear how long it will take for consumer confidence to fully rebound for flights in and out of Istanbul, said Robert Kokonis, president of airline consulting firm AirTrav Inc.
While Turkish Airlines is the dominant player at Istanbul's airport, an array of other carriers, including Air Canada, have been lured by its ideal location as a jumping-off point to destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. But recent bombings in Turkey had already scared away many tourists before Tuesday's suicide attack on Ataturk.
"This is the primary hub for Turkish Airlines," Mr. Kokonis said in an interview Wednesday. "If Turkey can get a handle on security and there aren't any further attacks, and if the security situation calms and stabilizes, people today who might have second thoughts will travel Turkish Airlines again."
The International Air Transport Association, which represents global airlines, condemned the attack on Ataturk. The terminal is the world's 11th-busiest as measured by passenger traffic.
"Air transport brings people together and facilitates both social and economic development. Istanbul has a particularly significant and historical role in connecting East and West," IATA director general Tony Tyler said in a statement.
Since the 2008-09 recession, passenger traffic has soared at Ataturk. Air Canada, one of more than 60 airlines operating there, launched its Toronto-Istanbul route in 2013 – three round-trips a week on Boeing 767s initially, but increasing to daily service in the summer of 2014. Last month on the route, Air Canada began operating the 251-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – a long-range, mid-sized jet that is 20-per-cent more fuel-efficient than the 767.
Air Canada cancelled one flight that had been scheduled to depart Tuesday night from Toronto's Pearson International Airport to Ataturk, and another from Istanbul that was slated to arrive in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon. The company has since restored daily service.
"Following the reopening of the airport, we undertook a full review including risk assessment as the safety of our passengers and employees is our first priority," Air Canada said in a release Wednesday. "A goodwill policy is in place to allow customers booked for travel to or from Istanbul to change or cancel flights with no penalty."
Transport Canada said in a statement it is monitoring for potential domestic terrorism: "Should any threat arise, all steps required to protect the safety and security of the travelling public will be taken immediately."
Last year, Ataturk handled 61.8-million passengers, while 41-million travellers went through Pearson.
European airlines saw the pace of growth in their passenger loads slow after the Brussels terror attacks in March. Industry experts say they have seen a pattern of travellers returning to the skies several months after the initial shock of terrorism in a region.
IATA's Mr. Tyler said Tuesday's deadly attack shows the vulnerability of so-called "landside" at airports – the portion of the terminal before entering security. "This tragedy in Istanbul and the one in Brussels earlier this year show that there is a growing challenge for governments to keep people safe in the landside parts of the airport," he said.
The International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency of the United Nations, said in a release that terrorist groups have been persistent in targeting air terminals. "ICAO is seeking practical and effective solutions for reinforcing landside security measures at airports," ICAO secretary general Fang Liu said.