Istanbul Airport has retained its position as Europe's busiest airport after recording an average of 1,623 daily flights between July 13 and July 19, according to the latest European aviation data. The figures show Turkey's importance as an international hub during the peak summer travel season. The latest report from the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) also highlighted continued growth in Turkish airline operations and increased traffic to major tourism destinations across the country.
Istanbul Leads Europe's Busiest Airports
Eurocontrol's weekly European Aviation Overview ranked Istanbul Airport ahead of Amsterdam Airport, which averaged 1,398 daily flights, while Paris Charles de Gaulle followed closely with 1,395. London Heathrow and Frankfurt Airport completed the top five with 1,331 and 1,320 daily flights respectively.
Traffic at Istanbul Airport remained stable compared with the same week last year, demonstrating the airport's ability to maintain consistently high passenger and flight volumes despite broader challenges facing the global aviation industry. The airport continues to strengthen its role as a major transfer hub connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Antalya Records Strong Summer Growth
Among Europe's busiest airports, Antalya recorded one of the strongest weekly increases in flight activity, with traffic rising 2% during the reporting period. Eurocontrol attributed the growth to increased services between Turkey and key tourism markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia, alongside stronger domestic flight demand.
Istanbul Airport also recorded a 1% week-on-week increase, matching growth seen at Palma de Mallorca as summer holiday travel continued to accelerate across Europe. The figures reflect continued demand for flights to Turkey's leading holiday destinations, particularly during the height of the Mediterranean tourism season when visitor arrivals reach their highest levels.
Turkish Airlines Expands Operations
Eurocontrol also reported that the Turkish Airlines Group operated an average of 1,832 daily flights between July 13 and July 19. This represented a 3% increase compared with the previous week and a 5% rise against the same period last year, highlighting continued expansion by Turkey's national carrier.
The report noted that European jet fuel prices have risen again due to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, lower fuel inventories across Europe, and strong seasonal demand from airlines during the busy summer period. Despite higher operating costs, the latest aviation data demonstrates the resilience of Turkey's aviation sector.
Nezir Can 
Operations Manager
Nezir 'Nez' Can is Operations Manager at Property Turkey and a contributor on Turkish culture, lifestyle, and everyday life across the country. Since joining the company, he has helped international readers better understand what it is like to live, work, and settle in Turkey.
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