Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu shared Turkey’s air traffic statistics for the January–November 2025 period with the public. According to Minister Uraloğlu, Turkish airports served 229 million 720 thousand passengers in the first 11 months of the year, surpassing a historic milestone. Passenger traffic increased by 6.7% and flight traffic by 9.1% compared to the same period last year.
November Traffic: 18.4 Million Passengers
In November, 197,105 flights took place across Türkiye. Domestic routes carried 8.3 million passengers, while international routes carried 10.1 million. Including direct transit passengers, the total number of passengers in November reached 18 million 479 thousand. This figure represents a 13% increase compared to the same period last year.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that an average of 688 thousand passengers travel by air daily in Türkiye, saying, “This figure is equivalent to nearly 9 Atatürk Olympic Stadiums filled with people.”
Istanbul Airports at the Top of Europe
Türkiye’s rise in global air transport stands out especially with its two major airports in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Airport: European leader with 77.5 million passengers in 11 months.
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Continues its strong performance with 44.2 million passengers.
Together, the two airports served a total of 121.7 million passengers between January and November.
Traffic Surge in Tourism Cities: Over 60 Million Passengers
The airports in Antalya, Izmir, Muğla (Dalaman – Milas-Bodrum), and Gazipaşa reached figures that fully reflect the strength of the 2025 tourism season.
- The total number of passengers at these four hubs reached 60 million 626 thousand.
- Antalya Airport alone broke a historical record with 38 million passengers.
“We Will Reach 250 Million Passengers by Year-End”
Minister Uraloğlu stated that with the remaining data for the year, Türkiye will close 2025 at around 250 million passengers, adding:
“Türkiye continues to be the fastest-recovering and fastest-growing aviation market in Europe.”
