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.
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.”
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:
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.