Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), which continues to grow with the motto “The City’s Airport”, reached its peak performance in 2025. According to State Airports Authority (DHMİ) data, SAW served 44 million 217 thousand 405 passengers between January and November, reaching the highest level in its history.
However, the most striking development took place on 3 August 2025, a date that went down in aviation history. On that day, Sabiha Gökçen pushed its operational limits and broke exactly eight different records simultaneously.
3 August 2025: “Golden Day” — Eight Records Broken at the Same Time
On the busiest day of the summer season, the traffic at Sabiha Gökçen Airport reached an extraordinary level. Here are the records broken in just one day:
- Total Passengers: 158,678
- Total Flights: 840
- International Arriving Passengers: 45,715
- International Arriving Aircraft: 244
- International Departing Passengers: 45,000
- International Departing Aircraft: 249
- Total International Passengers: 90,715
- Total International Flights: 493
These figures once again proved that SAW has now become one of the most important international transit hubs, not only of Istanbul but of the entire region.
44 Million Passengers in 11 Months: International Traffic Surpasses Domestic
In the 11-month period of 2025, the runways of Sabiha Gökçen hosted a total of 250,538 flights. The distribution of flights and passenger numbers strengthened the airport’s international identity:
- International Passengers: 24 million 775 thousand
- Domestic Passengers: 19 million 442 thousand
This data shows that SAW is rapidly advancing towards becoming a global hub, with international traffic surpassing domestic.
Most Preferred Routes: Antalya and TRNC Lead
The destinations most preferred by passengers in 2025 were also revealed:
- Domestic Leader: Antalya
- International Leader: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
The intensity of tourism and family-related travel kept these two routes at the top throughout the year.
Strengthening Its Position as “Istanbul’s Fastest Gateway to the World”
Thanks to capacity increases, new airlines choosing SAW, and an expanding international flight network, Sabiha Gökçen Airport is preparing to close 2025 with record-breaking performance.
The airport management states that the growth trend will continue and that SAW will maintain its claim to be Istanbul’s strong air gateway to the world.
