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Istanbul Airport has entered its seventh year as Europe’s busiest aviation hub, according to the latest data from EUROCONTROL, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation.
Since opening on Oct. 29, 2018, the airport has served nearly 403 million passengers and managed more than 2.6 million aircraft movements, solidifying its position as Türkiye’s largest and most significant infrastructure project.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu noted that Istanbul Airport continues to outperform Europe’s major air terminals, including Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and London Heathrow.
In EUROCONTROL’s European Aviation Overview Report released on October 23, the airport ranked first between Oct. 13 and 19, averaging 1,556 flights per day.
With an annual passenger capacity of 90 million, Istanbul Airport remains a key aviation gateway connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The minister underlined that continuous investments are being made to enhance efficiency and capacity.
On April 17, 2025, the airport introduced Europe’s first simultaneous triple independent runway operation, allowing three aircraft to take off or land on separate runways at the same time.
Uraloglu described the milestone as a major advancement that further strengthened Türkiye’s aviation sector.
The airport has also handled around 15.5 million tons of cargo over the past seven years, reinforcing its strategic role in global logistics.
According to Uraloglu, efforts are ongoing to expand both passenger and freight operations while maintaining the airport’s leadership in Europe.
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