Türkiye’s Air Traffic Soars, Exceeding 108 Million Passengers

The skies over Türkiye are busier than ever. From January to June, the nation’s airports handled an astounding 108.8 million passengers, signaling a robust recovery and expansion in air travel.

Passenger Breakdown

According to **Türkiye’s** Transport Minister, **Abdulkadir Uraloglu**, domestic flights accounted for 46.6 million passengers, while international routes saw 62.2 million travelers. He noted that these figures include direct transit passengers.

Aircraft Activity

Last month alone, the number of aircraft taking off and landing reached significant levels. On domestic routes, there were 89,696 flights, and international flights totaled 91,608. Including overpasses, the total aircraft traffic reached 223,459.

Overall Increase in Traffic

In the first half of the year, aircraft traffic landing and taking off at airports was 454,841 on domestic routes and 410,226 on international routes. **Uraloglu** stated that, with overpasses included, total aircraft traffic reached 1.1 million, a 5.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

Türkiye’s Aviation Boom Compared to Europe

Uraloglu highlighted the magnitude of air travel in **Türkiye**, noting that the number of passengers in the six-month period surpassed the entire population of numerous EU member states. The cargo traffic at airports also reached 2.3 million tons during this time.

Key Airports’ Performance

Istanbul Airport saw a total passenger traffic of 39.1 million in the first six months of the year, with 8.1 million on domestic flights and 30.9 million on international flights. Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul served 22.1 million passengers, including 9.6 million on domestic routes and 12.5 million on international routes.

Tourism Hubs Thrive

Airports in key Turkish tourism hubs such as Izmir, Antalya, Mugla, and Alanya collectively served 23.9 million passengers in the first six months of the year. This included 8.5 million on domestic flights and 15.4 million on international flights.

Global Aviation Rebound

This surge in air travel aligns with a broader global trend. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently reported that passenger traffic reached 94.6% of pre-pandemic levels in May 2024, demonstrating a strong recovery in the aviation sector IATA, June 2024.