iGA Istanbul Airport celebrates as it becomes world’s most connected airport
Driven largely by the huge increase in new services flown by its home-based airline, Turkish Airlines, iGA Istanbul Airport in Turkey, has taken the top spot globally in hub connectivity, surpassing Frankfurt in the 2025 rankings. This is according to the 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report published by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. In addition, iGA Istanbul Airport has maintained its position as Europe’s most connected airport in terms of direct connectivity, holding the same title in both 2024 and 2025.
Since opening in April 2019, iGA Istanbul Airport (ICAO code: IST) has become one of the world’s leading international airports. With its unique geographic position, set at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, iGA Istanbul Airport has been crowned Europe’s Busiest Airport for the past four years, handling 517,284 flights and over 80 million passengers annually in 2024.
With its strategic location and strong operational capacity, iGA Istanbul Airport has risen to the top of the 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report, which is said to be the most comprehensive index available and is published by the ACI to measure and rank airport connectivity. Compared to 2019, iGA Istanbul Airport increased its global hub connectivity by 59%, surpassing Frankfurt-Main Airport (FRA), which had held the top spot for many years. In the latest rankings, iGA Istanbul Airport was followed by Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Frankfurt, the latter of which has experienced a 21% decline in global connectivity since 2019.
iGA Istanbul AirportThe report, based on connectivity indices developed by SEO Amsterdam Economics, emphasized that iGA Istanbul Airport’s rapid ascent is a result of the “combined impact of Turkish Airlines’ strong global network growth, Istanbul’s strategic geographic location, extensive capacity, and Türkiye’s supportive aviation policies,” said an Istanbul Airport statement.
Additionally, the report also noted that iGA Istanbul Airport has continued to lead Europe in the ‘Direct Connectivity’ category, maintaining its top position in 2025, as it did in 2024. Compared to 2019, the airport has increased its direct connections by 13%. While it ranked fifth before the pandemic, it now stands as Europe’s most directly connected airport.
What the airport says
“With our expanding flight network, strategic location, and our commitment to providing high-quality service to passengers, Istanbul has firmly positioned itself at the center of global aviation,” said Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport. “This leadership is not only a source of pride for us, but also for our country and our region. The ACI Europe data once again underscores that iGA Istanbul Airport is a strategic hub not just for Türkiye, but for global air travel. Thanks to our strong performance in both direct and connecting flights, our airport continues to serve as a critical bridge in the global airline network,” he added.
Markus Mainka / Shutterstock“At iGA Istanbul Airport, we adapted quickly and with vision to the rapidly shifting dynamics of the aviation industry in the post-pandemic period. Through strategic investments, a passenger-focused service approach, and strong partnerships with our stakeholders, we have transformed Istanbul into a global transfer hub. In the period ahead, we will continue to grow, develop innovative solutions, and deliver an exceptional travel experience to our passengers,” Bilgen concluded.
Driven by Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines, the dominant airline at iGA Istanbul Airport, has seen remarkable profitability and growth in the post-pandemic era. In March 2025, the carrier announced its 2024 full-year financial results, which show a US$2.4 billion net profit. The Turkish flag carrier achieved this positive result on a total revenue of US$22.7 billion, up 8.2% over the previous year, for a 10.5% net profit margin.
Savvapanf Photo / ShutterstockIn 2024, Turkish Airlines also consolidated its absolute global lead when it comes to the number of international destinations, 352, and countries served, 131. What’s more, 2024 saw the addition of several iconic far-flung destinations, such as Santiago de Chile (SCL) and Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), in Australia. The carrier’s network is expected to keep growing unabated in 2025. The first half of the year has already seen the resumption of flights to Damascus as well as the announcement of the launch of new services between Istanbul (IST) and Phnom Penh (PNH), Auckland, and Minneapolis.
Likewise, capacity is also on the rise. It went up by 8.2% in 2024 as Turkish Airlines expanded its fleet by 12%, to 492 aircraft. If Turkish Airlines manages to fulfill its long-term plans, the 85.2 million passengers it carried in 2024 may soon be dwarfed, as the carrier prepares to nearly double its fleet to more than 800 aircraft within a decade. IGA Istanbul Airport will undoubtedly benefit further from such strong growth.
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The post iGA Istanbul Airport celebrates as it becomes world’s most connected airport appeared first on AeroTime.
Driven largely by the huge increase in new services flown by its home-based airline, Turkish Airlines, iGA Istanbul…
The post iGA Istanbul Airport celebrates as it becomes world’s most connected airport appeared first on AeroTime.
