Türkiye’s air travel sector witnessed a significant surge in 2023, with nearly 200 million passengers, including transit travelers, passing through its airports from January to November.
According to data from the State Airports Authority General Directorate (DHMI), this figure marks an 18% increase compared to the previous year, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 195.5 million.
Domestic air travel in Türkiye experienced a notable growth of 16.7% year-on-year, reaching 84.4 million passengers. International flights saw an even more pronounced rise, with passenger numbers soaring by 19.2% to 115.3 million during the same period.
In terms of aircraft traffic, over 2 million planes, including overflights, were serviced by Türkiye’s airports. Domestic flights accounted for 804,381 of these, while international flights comprised 759,649, representing a 15.3% increase from the previous year.
Cargo traffic also showed growth, albeit at a slower pace, with 3.8 million tons handled over the eleven months, indicating a 0.6% increase annually.
Istanbul Airport, Türkiye’s busiest airport, recorded a 19% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic, catering to 70.4 million travelers in the January-November window. The country’s second busiest airport, Sabiha Gokcen Airport, located on Istanbul’s Anatolian side, witnessed a 21% surge in passenger numbers, reaching 33.9 million.
Looking at the monthly statistics for November, Turkish airports, including transit passengers, welcomed 14.7 million passengers, an 8.7% increase compared to the same month last year. Airplane traffic, encompassing overflights, saw a 4.3% rise, totaling 156,028 for the month. Cargo traffic also grew, with 320,161 tons handled in November.
Both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport continued their trend as Türkiye’s busiest air hubs. In November alone, they jointly served 42.8 million passengers. Istanbul Airport welcomed 5.8 million passengers during this month, with 1.3 million on domestic and 4.5 million on international flights, and managed 39,211 flights. Sabiha Gokcen Airport saw close to 3 million passengers, with a nearly even split between domestic and international travelers.
