Istanbul Airport becomes world's most connected aviation hub

Istanbul Airport has achieved several major milestones in global aviation. According to the OAG Megahubs 2026 rankings, the airport has been named the world's airport with the highest global connectivity, surpassing London Heathrow.

Data from Eurocontrol further indicates that Istanbul Airport has become the busiest airport in Europe, recording an average of 1,587 flights per day. This surpasses major hubs such as Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt. Additionally, the airport has overtaken Frankfurt to become Europe's largest cargo hub.

Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul Airport, attributed these successes to long-term planning and significant capacity investments. A key development is the commissioning of a fourth runway in September 2026, which is the first east-west oriented runway at the facility. This new infrastructure is expected to provide additional capacity and improve operational efficiency for the more than 110 airlines operating at the airport.