Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (ISG) International Airport celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony attended by employees.
The journey that ISG began in 2001 with 47,000 passengers continues in 2025 with more than 48 million passengers, while the airport has hosted a total of 460 million guests in its quarter-century success story.
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (ISG) International Airport, which is Türkiye’s second-largest airport by passenger numbers and Europe’s 9th busiest, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony held at the terminal. Following speeches at the ceremony—attended by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, ISG senior management, and employees—the celebration cake was cut.
Opened to service on 8 January 2001 and serving 47,000 passengers that year, the airport reached 48.4 million passengers in 2025. Over the past quarter century, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport has welcomed a total of 460 million passengers.
Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the terminal operator of Sabiha Gökçen Airport, said: “As an institution that has accompanied Sabiha Gökçen Airport’s development journey from the very beginning, we take great pride in this extraordinary growth and rise. For MAHB, one of the world’s leading airport operators, Sabiha Gökçen holds strategic importance. ISG is the most concrete reflection of the strategic cooperation built on mutual trust, shared goals, and a long-term growth vision between Malaysia and Türkiye. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the trust shown in us and the support provided in Türkiye. Together, we are jointly writing one of the most dynamic success stories in global aviation over the past quarter century; I sincerely congratulate everyone who has contributed to this journey.”
Kerem Maybek, Deputy CEO for Commercial Affairs and Strategy at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, emphasised that significant progress has been made in transforming the airport’s strong growth into sustainable growth. Underlining that ISG provides exemplary services in its “complementary” role as one of Istanbul’s and Türkiye’s largest “gateway” and “connection” points, Kerem Maybek stated that Sabiha Gökçen, as a “fast, easy, budget-friendly, and digital” secondary airport, offers strategic value both to passengers and to the Turkish aviation sector. “We continue to develop by adding something new every year, and over 25 years we have covered a very important distance. In this process, we respectfully and fondly remember our colleagues who contributed but are no longer with us today. We thank everyone who has played a part in this success. Over the next 25 years, we will continue to work in harmony with our stakeholders to provide the highest contribution to our country and the best travel experience for our passengers,” he said.
Referred to as the “City’s Airport” due to its proximity to Istanbul and surrounding destinations, and in demand as an ideal transfer point with its road, sea, and rail connections, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport connects Istanbul to a total of 154 destinations—39 domestic and 115 international—across 54 countries.
