Türkiye’s aviation sector recorded a significant milestone in 2024, with the nation’s airports serving 230.2 million passengers, including direct transit travelers, reflecting a 7.5% increase compared to the previous year, according to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

Breaking down the numbers, domestic flights carried 95.3 million passengers, while international flights served 134.7 million. December 2024 alone saw domestic passenger traffic reach 7.08 million, with international routes handling 8.47 million passengers. When including direct transit passengers, the total monthly passenger traffic amounted to 15.56 million, reflecting an 8.2% increase compared to December 2023.

Aircraft traffic also showed notable growth throughout the year. Domestic flights recorded 902,078 takeoffs and landings, while international flights accounted for 866,779. Including overflights, total aircraft traffic reached 2.29 million, a 5.5% rise from the previous year. Cargo and freight operations were not left behind; domestic routes transported 917,816 tons, while international flights handled 4.02 million tons, totaling 4.94 million tons—a year-on-year increase of 11.1%.

Istanbul Airport remained Türkiye’s busiest aviation hub, recording a total of 517,285 aircraft movements, with 117,764 on domestic flights and 399,521 on international routes. In 2024, Istanbul Airport served nearly 80 million passengers, including 17.09 million on domestic routes and 62.9 million on international flights, marking a 5% rise from the previous year.

Similarly, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport reported substantial growth. In December 2024 alone, the airport handled 21,467 flights and served 3.57 million passengers, representing a 15% year-on-year increase. Over the year, Sabiha Gokcen managed 242,345 flights and served 41.48 million passengers—19.5 million on domestic routes and 21.97 million on international flights—showing a 13% increase from 2023.

Airports located in Türkiye’s key tourism destinations also saw a boost in passenger numbers, serving a total of 60.8 million passengers in 2024. Domestic traffic accounted for 18.1 million passengers, while international routes served 42.7 million. Notable airports included Antalya Airport with 38.25 million passengers, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport with 11.51 million passengers, Mugla Dalaman Airport with 5.66 million passengers, Milas-Bodrum Airport with 4.38 million passengers, and Gazipasa-Alanya Airport with 1.05 million passengers. (ILKHA)