In the first five months of 2025, the number of passengers who took advantage of the two main airports of Istanbul amounted to 49 million 954 thousand 750 people, which is 2 million 502 thousand 270 more compared to the same period last year.
According to data published on the website of the Main Directorate of State Airports of Turkey (DHMİ), the Istanbul airport from January to May served 31 million 898 thousand 425 passengers. Of these, 6 million 386 thousand 510 traveled on domestic flights, and 25 million 511 thousand 915 on international.
In the same period last year, the Istanbul airport served 31 million 218 thousand 577 people, of which 6 million 658 thousand 652 – domestic flights and 24 million 559 thousand 925 – international. Thus, the total increase in passenger traffic was 2%, while the number of passengers on internal flights decreased by 4%, and on international ones it increased by 4%.
Growth of international flights to Sabiha Gekchen
In January-May 2025, Sabiha Gekhen Airport served 18 million 56 thousand 325 passengers. Of these, 7 million 757 thousand 23 traveled internal flights, and 10 million 299 thousand 302 – international.
For comparison, in the same period of 2024, 7 million 656 thousand 934 internal and 8 million 576 thousand 969 international passengers were recorded. Thus, on international flights, the increase amounted to 1 million 722 thousand 333 people – an increase of 20%. The number of passengers on the interior lines increased by 1%.
General result: from January to May 2025, 14 million 143 thousand 533 internal and 35 million 811 thousand 217 international passengers went from two Istanbul airports, almost 50 million.
For comparison, last year over the same period, the total number of passengers was 47 million 452 thousand 480. The growth amounted to 2 million 502 thousand 270 people, or more than 5%.
In parallel with the increase in passenger traffic, the number of flights has also increased.
In the first five months of 2025, 46,257 internal and 166 721 international flights were completed at the Istanbul airport. The total number of flights is 212 978.
For comparison, in the same period of 2024 there were 207 854 – the increase was 5,124 flights.
At the Sabiha Gekchen airport, 43,868 internal and 61,410 international flights were completed during the same period – only 105,278, which is 8,315 flights more than last year (96 963).
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Ataturka Airport, which continues to operate limited flights, served 10,885 flights in five months of 2025 (6,032 internal and 4,853 international ones). In the same period of 2024 – 10,776 flights.
In total, from January to May 2025, 329,141 flights were completed from Istanbul airports. In the same period of 2024 – 315 593 flights. Thus, the increase was 13,548 flights – an increase of about 5%.