Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Istanbul Airport ranked first among Europe’s ten busiest airports in April 2025, with a daily average of 1,481 flights. Uraloğlu also stated that Türkiye ranked fourth in Europe for the number of new daily flights added, averaging 196 new flights per day. “With an average of 869 daily domestic flights, Türkiye ranked second in Europe in terms of domestic air traffic,” he added.
EUROCONTROL Data Confirms Türkiye’s Strong Aviation Performance
Evaluating April 2025 data from EUROCONTROL (the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation), Minister Uraloğlu emphasized the dominant role of Istanbul Airport in European air traffic. “With a daily average of 1,481 flights, Istanbul Airport secured the top position among Europe’s busiest airports,” he said. “It was followed by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport with 1,387 flights and London Heathrow with 1,350 flights.”
Istanbul Ranks 4th in Europe for Cargo Flights
Highlighting Istanbul Airport’s performance in cargo traffic, Uraloğlu stated, “In April, Istanbul Airport averaged 38.1 cargo departures per day, ranking fourth among Europe’s busiest airports for cargo traffic. This reflects Türkiye’s growing position as a regional hub in air logistics.”
Türkiye Second in Domestic Flights Across Europe
The Minister also pointed out Türkiye’s strength in domestic aviation, stating, “With an average of 869 domestic flights per day, Türkiye ranked second in Europe in April 2025. France ranked first with 975 daily flights, while Italy followed with 854.”
Sabiha Gökçen and Antalya Airports Among Europe’s Top 10
Low-cost carrier traffic further boosted Türkiye’s visibility in European aviation. “Sabiha Gökçen Airport ranked fifth with a daily average of 219.8 departures, while Antalya Airport ranked tenth with 179.3 departures,” Uraloğlu noted.
Türkiye Adds 196 New Daily Flights, Ranks 4th in Europe
Uraloğlu also underlined Türkiye’s growth in air connectivity. “In April 2025, Türkiye added an average of 196 new flights per day, ranking fourth in Europe. This clearly indicates that the momentum in air transport continues,” he concluded.
