Istanbul Airport becomes Europe's busiest with 1,519 daily flights
Istanbul Airport averaged 1,519 daily flights during 18-24 May, making it Europe's busiest, according to TRT Haber Ekonomi. Traffic is expected to rise further as the summer season approaches.
TRT Haber Ekonomi · TRT HaberAccording to TRT Haber Ekonomi, drawing on Eurocontrol data, Istanbul Airport averaged 1,519 flights a day in the week of 18-24 May 2026, making it Europe's busiest hub. The performance placed the airport ahead of major hubs such as London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The Eurocontrol numbers reflect a combination of Turkish Airlines' wide network, growth in transfer traffic and Istanbul's geographic position.
The daily figure of 1,519 movements marks roughly an 8 percent rise over the same period last year. Turkish Airlines' frequency and route-expansion strategy, paired with transfer-focused planning, continues to support the hub's attractiveness for connecting passengers. IGA Istanbul Airport officials said terminal capacity is meeting current demand and operational readiness for summer is in place. Turkey's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said flight permits and slot allocation for the summer schedule have been updated.
If the aviation and tourism recovery continues in the months ahead, Istanbul's role as a transit hub could be reinforced. Competition is expected to intensify in the Asia-Europe transfer segment among major international carriers. Eurocontrol data also leave open the prospect that the daily average will climb further during the peak summer months. This article is not investment or travel advice.
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