Turkish Airports Serve 187 Million Passengers in First Nine Months

Türkiye's aviation sector demonstrated robust growth as the nation's airports welcomed 187.4 million passengers during the first nine months of 2025, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced Wednesday. The figure represents a substantial 7.6% increase compared to the same period last year, with Turkish air hubs processing an average of 686,000 travelers daily throughout the January-September timeframe.

Minister Uraloğlu revealed that Turkish airports managed approximately 756,659 domestic flights and 711,652 international flights during the nine-month period, bringing the total operations to 1.8 million flights including overflights. Cargo transportation also showed strong performance, with airports handling 712,615 tons on domestic routes and 3.1 million tons internationally, totaling over 3.8 million tons of air freight. September alone saw 406,058 tons of international air cargo movement.

Istanbul's airports continued to drive Türkiye's aviation growth, with IGA Istanbul Airport operating 410,571 flights and serving 62.8 million passengers during the nine-month period. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Anatolian side handled 202,965 flights with 35.6 million passengers, while Atatürk Airport maintained executive operations with 21,835 flights. In September, Istanbul airports collectively processed 12 million passengers, demonstrating the city's critical role in national aviation infrastructure.

The minister highlighted exceptional performance in tourism-focused airports, with destinations collectively serving 50.2 million passengers during the reporting period. Antalya Airport led with 31.3 million passengers, followed by İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport at 9.5 million. Coastal airports in Muğla province—Dalaman and Milas-Bodrum—accommodated 4.7 million and 3.7 million passengers respectively, while Gazipaşa Alanya Airport served 802,596 travelers, underscoring Türkiye's continued appeal as a Mediterranean tourism destination.