Turkey stands out as a popular air traffic center worldwide with its unique geographical location, historical riches and dynamic economy. The country's size and diversity have encouraged the development and growth of Turkey's aviation sector. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at Turkey's largest airports and their annual traffic rates.
Turkey's largest airports and traffic

Turkey's Largest Airports and Traffic Rates

By examining important air transportation centers such as Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Antalya Airport, Ankara Esenboğa Airport and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, we will discover the cornerstones of Turkey's air transportation and understand how these airports contribute to the country's tourism and economic growth. While Turkey's air transport infrastructure has a bright vision for its future growth, let's take a look at the gates of this fascinating country in the sky.

1. Istanbul Airport

Standing out as Turkey's largest and busiest airport, Istanbul Airport is located on the European side of Istanbul as a modern facility that opened its doors in 2018. Istanbul Airport is a hub serving both national and international flights. According to 2021 data, Istanbul Airport carries an average of 50 million passengers annually.

2022 Istanbul Airport Traffic

  • Total Number of Passengers : 64,486,178
  • Total Aircraft Traffic : 425,897
  • Total Cargo Weight : 2.557.427

2. Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Istanbul's other major airport, is located on the Anatolian side and is especially important for domestic traffic. Sabiha Gökçen Airport has grown rapidly in recent years and hosted approximately 35 million passengers in 2021.

2022 Sabiha Gökçen Airport Traffic

  • Total Number of Passengers : 30,780,357
  • Total Aircraft Traffic : 200,034
  • Total Cargo Weight : 349.612

3. Antalya Airport

Antalya stands out as one of the most popular touristic regions of Turkey and therefore Antalya Airport is of great importance. Antalya Airport, which received a large influx of tourists especially in the summer months, served approximately 20 million passengers in 2021.

2022 Antalya Airport Traffic

  • Total Number of Passengers : 31,210,119
  • Total Aircraft Traffic : 197,994
  • Total Cargo Weight : 400.571

4. Ankara Esenboğa Airport

Ankara Esenboğa Airport, the main airport of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, serves domestic and international flights. According to 2021 data, Esenboğa Airport hosted approximately 16 million passengers.

2022 Esenboğa Airport Traffic

  • Total Number of Passengers : 8,644,967
  • Total Aircraft Traffic : 71,077
  • Total Cargo Weight : 94.221

5. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport

Izmir is an important port city and tourist attraction located on the western coast of Turkey. Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport serves as the main airport of Izmir and hosted approximately 13 million passengers in 2021.

2022 Adnan Menderes Airport Traffic

  • Total Number of Passengers : 9,837,110
  • Total Aircraft Traffic : 69,380
  • Total Cargo Weight : 140.463

Turkey's other major airports include important air centers such as Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport, Bodrum-Milas Airport, Dalaman Airport and Trabzon Airport. These major airports contribute greatly to the country's economy by supporting both domestic and international traffic of Turkey.

As a result, Turkey's major airports contribute significantly to Turkey's growth in tourism and trade by supporting the country's national and international air transportation. Pioneering facilities such as Istanbul Airport also help Turkey to be recognized at the global level. Turkey's air transportation infrastructure is constantly being developed to reflect greater potential in the future.