Istanbul Airport celebrated its eighth anniversary on October 29 with another strong showing in European aviation. According to the latest EUROCONTROL figures, the airport handled an average of 1,491 flights per day between October 19 and 25, ahead of every other airport in Europe.

The ranking comes at a notable moment for the airport, which officially opened on October 29, 2018. In eight years, it has grown into a major gateway connecting passengers between Europe, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

#1 in Europe

Average Daily Flights, Oct. 19–25

1,491

Flights per Day

8 Years

Since Opening in 2018

6 Runways

Including Two Reserve Runways

Europe’s Busiest Airports, October 19–25

EUROCONTROL’s latest figures put Istanbul Airport comfortably ahead of several established European hubs. The figures combine arriving and departing flights:

Rank Airport Average Daily Flights
1 Istanbul Airport 1,491
2 Amsterdam Schiphol 1,371
3 Paris Charles de Gaulle 1,369
4 Frankfurt Airport 1,303
5 Madrid-Barajas Airport 1,299
10 Antalya Airport 875

Source: EUROCONTROL. Ranks 6–9 are not shown.

Top Spot, but Slightly Lower Traffic

Although Istanbul held the top position, its daily traffic was 2% lower than the previous week and 3% below the same period in 2025. Leading the ranking does not necessarily mean traffic is growing every week.

A New East-West Runway

A new main runway opened on September 18, bringing the airport’s total to six runways, including two reserve runways. It is the airport’s first east-west runway.

It is intended to provide more operational flexibility, reduce taxiing and flight times on certain routes, and offer additional options in challenging weather.

Antalya Also in Europe’s Top 10

Antalya Airport placed tenth with an average of 875 flights per day. While Istanbul serves as a major transfer point between regions, Antalya handles substantial seasonal and international holiday traffic, highlighting the strength of Türkiye’s wider aviation network.

Istanbul Airport Milestones

  • Oct. 29, 2018Istanbul Airport officially began operations.
  • Sept. 18, 2026New east-west main runway opened, bringing the total to six.
  • Oct. 19–25, 2026Ranked first in Europe with 1,491 average daily flights.
  • Oct. 29, 2026Celebrated its eighth anniversary and entered its ninth year of operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

According to EUROCONTROL, Istanbul Airport had the highest average daily flights in Europe between October 19 and 25, with 1,491 flights per day.

Istanbul Airport officially began operations on October 29, 2018, and celebrated its eighth anniversary on October 29, 2026.

Amsterdam Schiphol ranked second with 1,371 daily flights, followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle (1,369), Frankfurt (1,303) and Madrid-Barajas (1,299).

Not in this period. Daily traffic was 2% lower than the previous week and 3% below the same period in 2025, even though the airport kept the top spot.

Istanbul Airport has six runways, including two reserve runways, following the opening of a new main runway on September 18.

It is the airport’s first east-west runway, designed to add operational flexibility, cut taxiing and flight times on some routes, and provide more options in bad weather.

Antalya Airport placed tenth in Europe, with an average of 875 flights per day in the same period.

The figures show the average number of daily flights, combining arrivals and departures, over the October 19–25 reporting period.

Its location and extensive network make it a major connection point for passengers traveling between Europe, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

Two: Istanbul Airport in first place and Antalya Airport in tenth place for the October 19–25 period.