iGA Istanbul Airport has reached a new milestone in European aviation history, handling a record 272,132 passengers on 27 July 2025 — the highest number ever recorded by any European airport in a single day. On this landmark date, the airport saw 134,893 arrivals and 137,239 departures.
This outstanding performance surpasses the previous record set by London Heathrow Airport, which processed 268,000 passengers on 30 June 2024.
Not only is it excelling in passenger volume, iGA Istanbul Airport is also demonstrating exceptional air traffic performance. On July 18, 2025, the airport recorded 1,695 aircraft movements, setting a new all-time high for daily flights since its opening.
These milestones further underline iGA Istanbul Airport’s growing significance in global aviation. With its strategic globally central location, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and official title of “the world’s most connected airport,” (ACI Europe 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report), iGA is a major global hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Offering seamless connections to over 330 destinations worldwide and backed by strong operational capacity, iGA Istanbul Airport has become a key transit point along both east-west and north-south air corridors. With these recent accomplishments, the airport continues to cement its position as one of the foremost centres of international aviation.
In addition, iGA Istanbul Airport was recently ranked #1 for the second consecutive year in the prestigious “World’s Best 10 International Airports” survey conducted by leading travel publication Travel + Leisure, further solidifying its global recognition.
