Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport handled a record 165,473 passengers on Sunday, its highest ever daily total. The airport also logged 889 flights on the same day, as summer travel demand surged after schools closed on 26 June.
The airport said the rise in holiday travel, strong domestic and international demand, and Istanbul’s appeal as a tourist destination all contributed to the record. The figures gave the airport its busiest day on record for both passengers and flights.
The milestone highlighted the scale of traffic at one of Türkiye’s and Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, where airport operator HEAŞ and terminal operator ISG managed the surge through coordinated planning. Airport teams handled air traffic control, apron operations, runway activity, terminal flow, security, cleaning and passenger guidance throughout the day.
The airport said the record showed the strength of its expanding route network, rising passenger capacity and operational infrastructure. The airport, which markets itself as “the city’s airport, ” is an important gateway for Istanbul and a growing contributor to Türkiye’s civil aviation goals.
Passenger numbers increased sharply across both domestic and international routes during the weekend peak, with holiday plans, intercity travel and overseas trips all adding to congestion. The airport said operations remained smooth and orderly despite the pressure.
Sunday’s performance marks a fresh high point for the airport as summer travel gets underway. The airport has increasingly positioned itself as a major transfer and travel point for the region, with the record underlining its strategic role in regional and global air transport.
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