Istanbul airports see passenger numbers near 70M in first 7 months of 2024
The tulip-shaped air control tower. (Photo by Burak Kara via Getty Images)
Passenger traffic at Istanbul’s airports reached nearly 70 million in the first seven months of 2024, reflecting a significant recovery in air travel following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data compiled by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI), a total of 69,337,172 passengers traveled through Istanbul’s airports between January and July, marking an increase of 5,915,118 compared to the same period in 2023.
The surge in passenger numbers highlights the ongoing global recovery in air travel, with a continuous rise in passenger figures since January 2024.
Istanbul Airport sees mixed trends in domestic, international travel
Istanbul Airport, the city’s largest, handled 45,688,593 passengers in the first seven months of this year.
Of these, 9,924,954 were domestic travelers, while 35,763,639 passengers flew on international routes.
Compared to the same period in 2023, domestic passenger numbers at Istanbul Airport decreased by 4%, while international traffic saw a 9% increase.
Overall, the airport recorded a 6% rise in total passenger numbers, with 2,642,629 more passengers than the previous year.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport registers growth across all categories
Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Istanbul’s secondary airport, also experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic. In the January-July period, 23,648,579 passengers used the airport, with 11,340,737 flying domestically and 12,307,842 on international flights.
This represents an 18% rise in domestic passenger numbers and a 14% increase in international traffic compared to the same period in 2023. Overall, the airport saw a 16% growth in passenger numbers, with an additional 3,272,489 passengers.
The combined passenger traffic at Istanbul’s airports during the first seven months of 2024 totaled 69,337,172, including 21,265,691 domestic and 48,071,481 international travelers.
This marks a 9% increase from the 63,422,054 passengers recorded during the same period last year.
Flight operations on rise
Parallel to the rise in passenger numbers, flight operations at Istanbul’s airports have also seen an increase. Istanbul Airport recorded 299,662 flights between January and July, including 68,973 domestic and 230,689 international flights.
This is a 3% increase from the 289,962 flights conducted in the same period last year.
At Sabiha Gokcen Airport, there were 139,226 flights, including 64,929 domestic and 74,297 international operations, marking a 7.5% increase from the previous year.
Ataturk Airport sees modest growth
Even Ataturk Airport, which has largely ceased commercial operations, recorded a slight increase in flight operations.
A total of 16,024 flights were conducted at the airport in the first seven months of this year, compared to 14,943 flights during the same period in 2023, representing a modest increase of 1,081 flights.
Overall, Istanbul’s airports handled 454,912 flights between January and July, up from 434,292 flights in the same period last year, reflecting a nearly 5% increase in total flight operations.
