Istanbul Airports see record-breaking passenger traffic
The IGA Istanbul Airport handled 80.4 million travelers last year, with numbers expected to reach 84 million by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport accommodated 41.4 million passengers last year, rising to 48 million this year, marking the busiest year in their histories.
By the close of 2025, IGA Istanbul Airport had managed around 547,000 flights, with 48% of passengers on long-haul transfers and 52% arriving or departing directly. The airport connects Istanbul to over 330 destinations worldwide. It recorded its highest single-day flight total of 1,707 on July 18 and handled a record 282,835 passengers on August 2. Additionally, it became the first airport in Europe to operate triple independent runways as of April 17. The number of scheduled airlines reached a historic peak of 116, with the annual passenger target set at 90 million for 2026.
At the same time, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport managed over 270,000 flights and served more than 48 million passengers throughout 2025, according to the airport’s authority HEAS, a subsidiary of Türkiye’s Defense Industries Agency (SSB). Some 56% of travelers flew internationally, with Germany the most popular destination, while the most visited airport was Ercan in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Antalya was the leading domestic destination. On September 7, the airport set new single-day records with 856 flights and 160,163 passengers.
Passenger traffic increased 6% on domestic routes and more than 24% on international routes compared to 2024. A renovation of Terminal-1 added additional capacity, expected to accommodate 5.5 million more passengers annually. The completion of the second 3,540-meter runway, expanded taxiways, cargo and aircraft aprons, control tower, and superstructure investments has significantly enhanced the airport’s capacity to handle wide-body aircraft and growing air traffic.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
