Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Among Europe's Fastest Growing Hubs in 2026

ACI Europe’s H1 2026 traffic report shows Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport increased passenger numbers by 6.4%, ranking it among the fastest‑growing large airports in Europe. Istanbul Airport handled 39.84 million travelers, keeping it second only to London Heathrow’s 40 million. Overall European airport traffic grew 2.6% year‑on‑year in the first half of 2026, but the pace slowed to 1.3% in Q2 after a 4.3% rise in Q1. The slowdown is linked to the war in the Middle East, higher jet‑fuel costs and airline capacity cuts. Turkey’s airports posted a 2.8% increase, outpacing many European markets. Other rapidly expanding hubs include Barcelona (+4.4%) and Madrid (+4.2%). Some airports, such as London Gatwick, Munich and Frankfurt, recorded declines. ACI Europe also warned that the EU’s Entry/Exit System could affect future passenger flows.