Passengers travelling through airports reached 135 million during the first seven months of the year
In the bustling city of Istanbul, Turkey's (Türkiye) largest airport continues to break records in passenger traffic and growth. According to data released by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ), Istanbul Airport handled a staggering 46.95 million passengers in the seven-month period of 2025, marking a 2 percent year-on-year increase.
During the same period, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport served a total of 26.5 million passengers, up 12 percent. The combined passenger traffic at these two airports in Istanbul accounted for over half of the total 134.9 million passengers who passed through Turkey's airports in the first seven months of the year.
The data reveals that domestic passenger traffic at Istanbul Airport dipped by 1.6 percent to 9.93 million, while international passenger numbers grew by 3 percent to 37 million. Domestic flights carried approximately 56.6 million passengers, marking a 1.7 percent annual rise. International routes accounted for around 78.3 million passengers, showing a 5.4 percent growth.
The number of aircraft movements reached 1.4 million, including over 800,000 domestic and international flights. Nearly 300,000 overflights were also recorded. Airports in Turkey's tourism hubs welcomed a total of 32.8 million passengers, with 10.65 million on domestic flights and 22.1 million on international routes. This figure represents a 3.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Compared to other major airports in Turkey, such as Antalya Airport, Istanbul Airport leads significantly in volume and growth rate. This growth is supported by recent infrastructure expansions, including a third runway, which have increased capacity and flight connectivity.
Istanbul Airport's impressive growth is not limited to Turkey. In July 2025, the airport handled a record-breaking 4.75 million passengers for the month, marking an 8% increase over the previous year. It also set a new European record for daily passenger traffic with 272,132 passengers in one day, surpassing London Heathrow's record of 268,000 passengers.
Within Europe, Istanbul Airport is currently one of the fastest-growing and busiest airports, contributing strongly to the overall 4.5% growth in passenger traffic observed across European airports in the first half of 2025. The steady recovery in air travel demand, as reflected in the increasing passenger numbers, bodes well for the aviation industry's future.
- The aviation industry in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul, continues to flourish, with Istanbul Airport leading the way in volume and growth.
- Finance and travel sectors are significantly impacted by the expansive growth at Istanbul Airport, affecting both domestic and international travel lifestyles.
- Istanbul Airport's remarkable growth has extended beyond Turkey's borders, setting new European records for monthly passenger traffic and daily passenger numbers.
