Bodrum's New Airport Terminal

I  flew from Bodrum airport’s new terminal last week. Open only a week, it seemed to have all systems up and running and, apart from the long queue to check in to the Easy Jet flight, all else was quick and efficient.  Everything is very, very shiny. Don't take off your sunglasses on entering as the glare from the floors is blinding and wear shoes with decent grip, because the marble floors are so polished that in smooth leather soles, with a good run up, you could probably slide from the security gate to the first airline desk.  A group of children were busy testing this theory as I waited to check in. Overall, the terminal wins my vote of approval. The staff were very professional, with good English  and even the cafe wasn't too expensive.  My memories of recent Turkish airport catering are not flattering; "way over-priced" and "inedible" are the adjectives which fly to mind. The new terminal restaurant hadn’t opened but the cafe had a selection of hot and cold buffet style dishes, and sandwiches.   All the  food looked and smelt more appetising than the reheated junk food on the Easy Jet flight. Hopefully these prices aren’t an”introductory offer” and the new management will realise that if they offer reasonable food at fair prices, they will sell much more. In the early days of tourism, I don’t remember the airport food being over-priced at Dalaman airport, but there again, in those days they never charged tour company staff anyway. Life really was one long free lunch on transfer days.

As I walked from the departure lounge to the aeroplane without leaving the air-conditioning or encountering stairs, I almost became nostalgic for the hot walk from the building to the plane steps, breathing in the smell of fuel and melting tarmac. Gone are the days when you were greeted with piles of luggage and have to find and touch your case before it would be loaded. There always seemed to be one case left on the ground. An unsuspecting tourist who didn't understand the system, would be waiting at the baggage reclaim at Heathrow for a bag that was having an extended and often permanent stay in Turkey.