Istanbul Airport in Peru It is the most connected airport in the world, with an average of 1,300 flights to various countries around the world every day.
Surprisingly, the world’s most connected airports aren’t always the oldest.
A recent report by aviation analytics firm Cirium reveals that Istanbul Airport has taken the top spot as the most connected airport in the world.
This is despite having only been in operation for six years.
This busy hub has 309 direct flights to 315 destinations, serving almost 90 million passengers annually since January 2024.
According to Eurocontrol, Istanbul Airport had an average of 1,375 daily flights in 2023, with a new record set on 22 June 2023 when the airport recorded a total of 1,684 flights in a single day.
By the end of 2023, Istanbul Airport had handled 505,968 flights — a huge jump from the 329,876 flights it handled in its inaugural year, 2019.
This extensive network places Istanbul Airport among the select few airports in Europe — and the world — that connect to every inhabited continent.
Looking ahead, the airport plans to further expand its reach by adding 11 new airlines to its roster of 101 carriers by the end of 2024.
In a recent development on June 28, 2024, Istanbul Airport unveiled new flights to Guangzhou with China Southern Airlines, marking a key step in its strategy to not only recover but surpass China’s pre-pandemic travel levels.
Mike Arnot, a spokesman representing Cirium and Star Alliance, said: “Istanbul is perfectly placed to play this role, at the junction of Europe and Asia, and is helped tremendously by the ambitions of its national carrier, Turkish Airlines.
“Compared to the pre-pandemic period, Turkish Airlines more than doubled the number of seats flown to North America, 30% to Asia and added 10% to Europe.”
Istanbul is an important city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia via the Bosphorus Strait. It is known for its culture, colorful bazaars and superb cuisine.