Istanbul Airport sets European record with 289,260 passengers in a day

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that Istanbul Airport served 289,260 passengers on Saturday, marking the highest daily passenger count of all time in both Türkiye and Europe.

In a written statement, Uraloglu said Istanbul Airport broke the passenger record on Aug. 1.

Noting that the airport served 289,260 passengers that day, Uraloglu said, "Istanbul Airport has reached the highest daily passenger count of all time in Türkiye and Europe. With this figure, our Istanbul Airport has set a new record."

Turkish Airlines aircraft taxiing on the runway at Istanbul Airport, with the air traffic control tower and Turkish Technic maintenance hangar in the background., accessed on Jan. 27, 2025 (Adobe Stock Photo)

Airport continues year-on-year growth

The new daily figure surpasses Istanbul Airport's previous record of 282,835 passengers, set on Aug. 2, 2025, according to the airport's operator, IGA. The airport closed out 2025 with a record 84.46 million passengers, up 5% from 2024, and has set a target of 90 million passengers for 2026.

Istanbul Airport connects to more than 330 destinations and is served by 116 scheduled airlines, according to IGA data. Uraloglu said the airport's strategic importance in international aviation continued to grow.

Highlighting that Istanbul Airport's capacity, strong infrastructure, and quality of service place it among the world's leading airports, Uraloglu said, "This new record once again demonstrates that our airport's position as a global transfer hub has been further strengthened."

August 02, 2026 01:55 PM GMT+03:00