Hot air balloon tourism reaches new heights with 310,301 flights

The number of flights in a single day in Cappadocia alone surpasses those in other flight-permissible regions worldwide, Minister Uraloglu says

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu reported that over the last 13 years, 310,301 flights carried 5.86 million domestic and foreign passengers on hot air balloons.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced a remarkable milestone, revealing that hot air balloons have carried a staggering 5.86 million passengers on 310,301 flights from 2011 to May 2024.

In a written statement regarding hot air balloon operations, Uraloglu highlighted Türkiye’s position as the world’s largest commercial hot air balloon operator, both in terms of traffic volume and number of flight days.

Uraloglu indicated that the number of flights in a single day in Cappadocia alone surpasses those in other flight-permissible regions worldwide, typically achievable only during festivals.

Uraloglu said that 67 licensed hot air balloon companies and six approved training organizations are currently operating in the country. These companies operate 434 balloons and employ 682 balloon pilots.

The minister emphasized that balloon flight activities are conducted in seven regions across the country, including Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Soganli, Cat, Ihlara, Afyonkarahisar and Antalya. He noted that over 80% of the hot air balloons take flight in the Cappadocia region, contributing significantly to the region’s visibility and tourism since 2011, with 310,301 flights carrying 5.86 million passengers until May 1.

Highlighting a record increase in balloon passengers to 750,000 in 2022, Uraloglu pointed out that by May 1, 2024, despite the holiday season not yet commencing, 183,574 individuals had already experienced balloon flights, indicating a potential record-breaking season.

Uraloglu further explained that Cappadocia’s climate and wind conditions allow for flights on an average of up to 280 days per year, with approximately 2,500 balloon flights conducted monthly, serving around 50,000 passengers.

He highlighted the global significance of this figure. In contrast, European countries like Germany, France, the U.K., and the Netherlands can only manage a maximum of 60 flight days per year due to less ideal weather conditions. Even commercially established hot air balloon destinations like Kenya are limited to around 120 days annually

Headline: Türkiye’s hot air balloon tourism soars with record passenger numbers
Short Headline: Türkiye sets records in hot air balloon tourism
Spot Sentence: Türkiye tops global hot air balloon tourism with millions of passengers
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