Turkey’s air travel passengers top national population in first five months of 2026

Turkey’s transport ministry reported that 89,036,395 airline passengers were carried between January and May 2026, surpassing the country’s total population. The figure includes 40.6 million domestic and 48.3 million international travelers, marking a 4 % increase compared with the same period last year.

May alone saw 21.54 million passengers, with Istanbul Airport remaining the busiest hub (32.8 million passengers in the five‑month period). Sabiha Gökçen handled 19.3 million, while tourism‑focused airports served a combined 16.3 million travelers, led by Antalya (9.17 million) and İzmir Adnan Menderes (4.81 million). Total aircraft movements reached 892,160 and cargo throughput exceeded 2 million tonnes.

These statistics highlight a surge in air‑travel demand and underline the importance of Turkey’s aviation sector for domestic mobility and tourism.