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.
According 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.
More from Europe
EU's six largest economies launch joint Capital Markets Union push
Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland have agreed on a joint position to accelerate the EU's Capital Markets Union, Anadolu Agency Ekonomi reported. The move aims to narrow the bloc's investment gap and support technology scale-up.
Turkish Defence Ministry announces mobilisation drill to test plans and procedures
Turkey's Defence Ministry said it will run a nationwide mobilisation drill to test plans and procedures. The exercise aims to strengthen interagency coordination and assess operational readiness, the ministry said.
Foreign Minister Fidan signals UAV co-development push with Japan
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Türkiye is willing to cooperate with Japan in unmanned aerial vehicles, citing joint development and joint production potential, Anadolu Agency reported. The remarks open a new track in the Türkiye-Japan defence-industry dialogue.