Air passengers at Istanbul’s airports exceeded Türkiye’s population in the first eight months

According to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ), passengers using Istanbul’s airports between January and August this year reached 86.4 million — up 6% on last year and exceeding Türkiye’s total population of 85.8 million.

Istanbul Airport (IGA) handled 55.2 million passengers in this period, including 11.8 million domestic and 43.4 million international, up 3% year on year. On the Asian side, Sabiha Gökçen Airport handled 31.2 million passengers — 13.8 million domestic and 17.3 million international — a notable increase of 13.4%.

According to TurkStat, the country’s total population was 85.8 million as of 1 July. In the first eight months of the year, Istanbul’s airports handled 559,811 flights in total, up 7%:

• Istanbul Airport (IGA): 346,644 flights (82,933 domestic and 279,136 international), up 4.4%
• Sabiha Gökçen Airport: 178,296 flights (75,742 domestic and 102,554 international), up 11%
• Istanbul Atatürk Airport (business aviation centre): 19,446 flights (10,863 domestic and 8,583 international), up 4%