Tourexpi
Istanbul’s Airports Set New Passenger Records in 2025
Air travel in Istanbul reached unprecedented levels in
2025, as the city’s two main airports—IGA Istanbul Airport and Istanbul Sabiha
Gokcen Airport—set new passenger records. According to Türkiye’s State Airports
Authority (DHMI), a total of 132 million passengers passed through Istanbul’s
air hubs by the end of the year, underscoring the city’s growing role as a
global aviation crossroads.
IGA Istanbul Airport, located on the European side of
the city, handled 80.4 million passengers in 2024, with traffic expected to
reach around 84 million by the close of 2025. On the Asian side, Istanbul
Sabiha Gökçen Airport served 48 million passengers this year, up from 41.4
million the previous year. Both airports recorded their highest passenger
volumes since opening.
IGA Istanbul Airport strengthens global hub status
By the end of 2025, IGA Istanbul Airport is expected
to have operated approximately 547,000 flights. Of its passengers, 48 percent
were transfer travelers on long-haul routes, while 52 percent were arriving or
departing passengers. The airport now connects Istanbul with more than 330
destinations worldwide.
Operational milestones also marked the year. On July
18, IGA recorded its highest-ever number of daily flights with 1,707 movements,
followed by a peak passenger day on August 2, when 282,835 travelers passed
through the terminal. On April 17, the airport became the first in Europe to
successfully implement triple independent runway operations.
The number of scheduled passenger airlines operating
at IGA reached a historic high of 116 in 2025. Looking ahead, the airport has
set an ambitious annual passenger target of 90 million for 2026.
Sabiha Gökçen posts strong international growth
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport also posted a record
year, hosting more than 270,000 flights and over 48 million passengers in 2025,
according to airport operator HEAŞ. International travel accounted for 56
percent of passenger traffic, while domestic flights made up the remaining 44
percent.
Germany emerged as the most popular international
destination, while Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was
the single most visited route overall. Domestically, Antalya Airport ranked as
the leading destination.
On September 7, Sabiha Gökçen broke its daily records
with 856 aircraft movements and 160,163 passengers in a single day. Compared to
2024, passenger traffic increased by 6 percent on domestic routes and by more
than 24 percent on international routes.
Infrastructure investments boost capacity
Capacity expansion played a key role in supporting
growth at Sabiha Gökçen. The renovation and reopening of Terminal 1 added an
additional 5.5 million passengers per year to the airport’s capacity. In
parallel, the completion of a 3,540-meter second runway—along with new
taxiways, cargo and aircraft aprons, a control tower and supporting
infrastructure designed for wide-body aircraft—significantly enhanced the
airport’s operational capabilities.
Together, the record figures from both airports
highlight Istanbul’s rising prominence as one of the world’s leading aviation
hubs, bridging Europe, Asia and beyond.
Image
Credit: © AA
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