Its area is larger than Manhattan. This is how Istanbul Airport has become the most globally connected

Istanbul has always been a global hub, located at the crossroads of continents. The Turkish city controlled the trade routes extending along the Silk Road and the sea lanes linking the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

It was also the final stop of the famous Orient Express train during the golden age of railways. Today, Istanbul Airport (iGA) dominates the skies, recently snatching the title from London Heathrow Airport to become the most connected airport in the world.

“They've finally taken the top spot,” says John Grant, chief analyst at global travel data firm OAG, which recently released the Megahubs 2026 Index comparing the world's best airports. These rankings are based on comparing the number of scheduled international connecting flights (arriving and departing) to the number of destinations served by the airport.

This is done by analyzing data on the busiest day of the year, which fell on August 2 this year. Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of the airport, describes this achievement as “an important step for Istanbul Airport that reflects the position it has established as a global aviation hub,” adding: “Today we serve about 350 destinations around the world, with great opportunities for further growth.”

Schiphol Airport in the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, came in third place in this year's classification, followed by Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Airport in fourth place, while the American O'Hare Airport came in fifth place. A solid position The rise of Istanbul Airport, which cost $12 billion to build, was an impressive matter, as it opened amid great celebration in 2018, about 32 kilometers outside of Istanbul on the European side.

The airport is a center designed to be huge: its massive 1.4 million square meter passenger terminal is the largest of its kind in the world under one roof, and the total site area of ​​76.5 million square meters is larger than the area of ​​Manhattan in New York City. The airport receives more than 84 million passengers annually, making it the eighth busiest airport in the world.

However, the long-term plan aims to increase the airport's capacity to reach 200 million passengers annually, which is equivalent to doubling the annual number of passengers currently received by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport in America, which is considered the busiest airport in the world. Istanbul Airport opened its fourth main runway last month, and the ultimate goal is for the airport to have nine runways (six main runways and three reserve runways).

Competitive advantage Turkish Airlines accounts for 80% of flights at Istanbul Airport, and plays a pivotal role in the success of this air hub. Two years ago, the company broke the Guinness Book of World Records for operating flights to the largest number of countries, with its flights reaching 130 countries by 2026.

The company also operates a modern and rapidly growing fleet of more than 500 Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Victoria Mironyuk, a senior lecturer in air transport management at Cranfield University in Britain, points out that the newer fleet leaves a “better impression” on customers, and this is reflected in the excellent level of service that contributed to Turkish Airlines recently receiving the Skytrax award for best airline in Europe.

Newer aircraft are also more efficient, which gives the company a competitive advantage in light of rising fuel prices, allowing it to reduce ticket prices. Ability to grow This year's rankings were affected by the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, as well as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

While other airports and regions suffered from the repercussions, Istanbul Airport was lucky thanks to Turkey's geographical location and diplomatic relations. The airport has flexibility and the ability to grow, which are components that competing airports in the region lack.

“The fact that Istanbul Airport is located in a somewhat remote area (away from the crowded heart of the city) means that it can be operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Mironyuk.