Senior Appointments at TAV Airports
Candemir Akyıldız has been appointed as General Manager of TAV Ege and TAV Milas-Bodrum, effective May 1, 2026. Erkan Balcı, who will hand over his role to Akyıldız, will assume the position of Director of Airport Optimization and Digital Projects at TAV Airports Holding. Meanwhile, İclal Kayaoğlu, General Manager of TAV Milas-Bodrum, will retire as of April 1.
TAV Airports has announced senior management changes.
İclal Kayaoğlu, who has been with the Group for 25 years and has served as General Manager of Milas-Bodrum Airport since 2021, will retire as of April 1.
Erkan Balcı, who has led İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport since 2009 as General Manager of TAV Ege, will continue his career at the TAV Airports Holding as Director of Airport Optimization and Digital Projects as of May 1.
As of May 1, 2026, Candemir Akyıldız will serve as General Manager of TAV Ege and TAV Milas-Bodrum, overseeing İzmir Adnan Menderes and Milas-Bodrum airports.
Akyıldız and Balcı will report to Mete Erna, COO – Airports, TAV Airports Holding.
Other appointments are as follows:
- Okay Taşdemir, currently Technical Services Coordinator at TAV Milas-Bodrum, has been appointed as TAV Milas-Bodrum Director, effective April 1, 2026.
- Erdost Erden, Commercial Affairs Coordinator at TAV Airports Holding, has been appointed as Assistant General Manager – Operations at TAV Ege, effective May 1, 2026.
About Candemir Akyıldız
Born in 1981, Candemir Akyıldız is an experienced aviation executive with 25 years of leadership across airport operations, management, and strategic development. He studied Transportation Management in Yıldız Technical University and holds an Executive MBA degree from Bahçeşehir University. He began his career at TAV Istanbul in 2001 and played a key role in the design, construction oversight, and operational readiness of more than ten airports cross various geographies and group companies. He was appointed as Airports Director in 2021, leading the operational strategy and standardization across TAV Airports portfolio. He is a member of the ACI World Facilitation & Services Standing Committee. Akyıldız holds ACI AMPAP accreditation. Married with two children, he is fluent in English.
About TAV Airports
TAV Airports provides integrated services in all areas of airport operations, with a global footprint at more than 100 airports in more than 30 countries. In 2025, TAV Airports welcomed 113 million passengers across its portfolio. A member of Groupe ADP, TAV Airports is part of the leading airport management platform globally. Through its subsidiaries, TAV is active in airport service businesses, including duty-free, food and beverage, ground handling, IT, private security, and commercial area management. The company is quoted on Istanbul Stock Exchange.
For further information:
Esra Özer, T +90 212 463 30 00 / 2094 and +90 531 500 99 75 Esra.Ozer@tav.aero
