İGA Istanbul Airport further strengthened its position in global aviation with the record passenger and flight numbers it achieved in 2025. İGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen shared data on the past year and announced the 2026 targets during an evaluation meeting with aviation journalists.
Stating that 2025 was the year in which the highest operational performance in İGA’s history was recorded, Bilgen said that 81.23 million passengers were served between 1 January and 18 December, and that this figure is expected to reach approximately 84.3 million by the end of the year. Emphasising that records were broken with a daily average of 1,707 flights and 282,835 passengers, Bilgen noted that this success was not only numerical, but also an indication of operational excellence.
The world’s strongest connectivity hub
Noting that İGA Istanbul Airport has today become a global connectivity hub with a flight network extending to more than 330 destinations, Bilgen said that 48 per cent of the passenger profile consists of long-haul transfer passengers, while 52 per cent are origin-destination passengers. He underlined that this balance shows Istanbul is not only a transit point, but also a strong origin and destination city. Bilgen also recalled that, according to ACI EUROPE data, Istanbul Airport has surpassed Frankfurt to become the world’s strongest connectivity hub.
A first in Europe: Independent Triple Runway Operation
Drawing attention to the Independent Triple Runway Operation commissioned in 2025 as a first in Europe, Bilgen said that thanks to this system, implemented as of 17 April, three aircraft can independently land or take off at the same time. Stating that this operation has taken İGA into a different league in terms of capacity management and operational efficiency, Bilgen said it provides significant advantages for both airlines and passengers during periods of heavy traffic.
International awards as a result of strategy
Emphasising that the international awards received by İGA are a result of its strategies, Bilgen said that being selected as “The World’s Best Airport” by prestigious publications such as Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure shows that investments in passenger experience are paying off. He also noted that the “Level 5 Customer Experience Accreditation” awarded by ACI holds special importance, adding that İGA is the first airport in Europe to reach this level and one of only six airports worldwide.
Sustainability at the core of operations
Stressing that sustainability is not a side topic for İGA but is at the core of its business, Selahattin Bilgen said that concrete steps are being taken in line with the 2050 Net Zero Emissions target. He stated that thanks to the Solar Power Plant implemented in Eskişehir with an investment of €212 million, İGA has become the world’s first major airport to meet all of its electricity consumption from solar energy, adding that this sends a strong leadership message to the sector.
Global success from İGA Academy
Noting that İGA Academy is an important part of the vision to share knowledge and experience on an international scale, Bilgen said that the Global Training Partners award given by ACI shows that this approach has been recognised globally. He also added that analyses reveal that every 1 TL invested in the academy generates 2.51 TL in social benefit.
2026 target: More than 90 million passengers
Sharing the targets for 2026, Bilgen announced plans to exceed 90 million passengers and to add 6–7 new airlines to the flight network. However, he emphasised that growth is not defined solely by numbers, stating that operational excellence, passenger experience, sustainability and global partnerships will continue to be the main priorities.
Bilgen defined İGA Istanbul Airport as “a global connectivity hub that goes beyond today’s needs and builds the aviation of the future starting today”.
