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Istanbul airport breaks daily flight record, tops global rankings again

Turkish Airlines aircraft are seen lined up on the tarmac at Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, acessed on June 17, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
July 19, 2025 01:49 PM GMT+03:00

Istanbul Airport reached a historic operational milestone on July 18, handling 1,695 air traffic movements in a single day—the highest number since its inauguration, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, announced on Saturday.

The record surpassed the airport's previous peak of 1,690 flights on June 11, 2023, when Istanbul hosted the UEFA Champions League Final. Minister Uraloglu hailed the achievement as "a historic success in terms of both operations and international prestige."

"Istanbul Airport continues to establish itself as one of the leading players in global aviation," he said in a written statement.

International recognition solidified

Uraloglu also emphasized that the airport’s global reputation was further solidified by ranking first for the second consecutive year in Travel + Leisure magazine’s readers’ poll of “Top 10 International Airports.”

Turkish Airlines aircraft lined up at their gates at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye, on October 8, 2023. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Turkish Airlines aircraft lined up at their gates at Istanbul Airport in Türkiye, on October 8, 2023. (Adobe Stock Photo)

The survey, determined by millions of readers worldwide, assessed airports on accessibility, security, check-in experience, food and beverage offerings, retail facilities, and architectural design. Istanbul Airport beat out major hubs such as:

  • Changi Airport (Singapore)
  • Hamad International Airport (Qatar)
  • Zayed International Airport (UAE)
  • Dubai International Airport (UAE)
  • Hong Kong International Airport
  • Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (Finland)
  • Haneda Airport (Japan)
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (India)
  • Incheon International Airport (South Korea)

Türkiye’s global aviation vision

According to Uraloglu, the recognition is a testament to Türkiye’s forward-looking aviation strategy and the high-quality services delivered at Istanbul Airport.

“Once again, Istanbul Airport has shown how Türkiye’s vision in aviation is being acknowledged and celebrated globally,” he stated.

July 19, 2025 01:49 PM GMT+03:00
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