Istanbul Airport has once again claimed the top spot in Travel And Leisure magazine’s prestigious annual survey of “The World’s Best International Airports” for 2025. After earning 95.79 points last year to secure first place, the airport further improved its score this year to an impressive 98.57 — cementing its dominance on the global stage.
This major recognition goes far beyond architectural aesthetics or passenger capacity alone. The award takes a comprehensive view of criteria such as passenger experience, accessibility, service quality, and operational efficiency — and Istanbul Airport has excelled in all these areas, winning over readers from around the world.
A Global Leader in Infrastructure: Triple-Runway Operations Begin
The year 2025 has marked not only awards but also record-breaking milestones for Istanbul Airport. In April, it became the only airport in Europe — and the first outside the United States — to simultaneously operate three runways. With the introduction of this new configuration, the airport’s hourly flight capacity has risen to 148.
“With the new runway system, air traffic over Istanbul is now far more seamless and robust.”
A Record Year: 1,695 Flights in One Day
On July 18, 2025, Istanbul Airport broke another record by handling 1,695 flights in a single day — the highest daily traffic since its opening. On the same day, the airport welcomed more than 286,000 passengers.
Optimized for a Global Passenger Profile
Serving nearly 80 million passengers in 2024, Istanbul Airport ranks as the second-busiest airport in Europe and the seventh worldwide. The continued expansion of Turkish Airlines’ global routes and Istanbul’s geographic positioning have made the airport an ideal international hub.
The Global Face of Hospitality
Officials from İGA Airport Operations emphasized that this achievement is a source of national pride for Türkiye. Blending the warmth of Turkish hospitality with a contemporary service philosophy, Istanbul Airport is increasingly being recognized as a place where international travelers “feel at home.”
“Modernity and tradition converge in the soaring corridors of the terminal.”
A New Standard for Travel
According to Travel And Leisure editors, Istanbul Airport “represents the next generation of air travel.” At the core of this vision is an emphasis on passenger experience, underscoring the idea that modern airports should not rely solely on technical excellence but also on human-centered design and service.
Being named the world’s best airport for the second consecutive year is not only a triumph of engineering but also a symbol of forward-thinking vision. At Istanbul Airport, each flight becomes a boundary-crossing experience, and each terminal a meeting point of modern life and cultural heritage. This success, rising from Istanbul’s skies, embodies Türkiye’s global ambition, its spirit of hospitality, and its innovative strength — connecting travelers not just with a magnificent city, but with a contemporary worldview.
