Thaci, Vuciq, and even Khahab Nurmagomedov in Istanbul

Leaders of various states, including Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, Serbia's Aleksandar Vuciq, Ilir Meta, president of Albania, are participating in the inauguration of Istanbul's giant airport.

At one point, Khab Nurmagedov has greeted Erdogan.

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan is opening Istanbul's new airport, which the Turkish government claims will be the largest in the world.

The airport, just one of Erdogan's major projects, was scheduled to open fully Monday, but works have been hampered by several delays and worker strikes for serious working conditions.

Erdogan had pledged to finalise the 12 billion-dollar project so as to turn Istanbul into a connecting area between Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as to turn the airline, Turkish Airlines, into giant aviation.

However, the airport will now offer flights to only 5 countries, until the opening space expands 29 December.

The airport is expected to have 90 million passengers within the year, and when all areas are completed in 2028, it will accept some 200 million passengers in 12 months.

The first flight from the airport still unnamed will be towards Ankara.