Istanbul Airport (IST) is aiming to significantly increase passenger traffic in 2024, targeting a record-breaking 85 million passengers. This ambitious goal is outlined alongside a comprehensive investment plan designed to further solidify IST’s position as a leading European hub.
Having commenced operations in 2019, IST has experienced rapid growth, serving 76 million passengers in 2023. This positioned IST as the second-busiest airport in Europe, narrowly trailing London Heathrow. Following capacity limitations at Heathrow, IST held the title of Europe’s busiest airport in 2022.
“We are committed to continuous improvement and expansion,” stated Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of Istanbul Airport, at a recent press conference. This commitment is reflected in a planned investment of €656.5 million for 2024. A key element of this investment includes the introduction of “the first triple parallel runway operation in Europe,” significantly increasing IST’s capacity to handle a growing number of flights and passengers.
Since its opening, IST has witnessed impressive growth. Mr. Bilgen highlighted, “From 2019 to 2023, flight operations have increased from 329,876 to 505,968, and passenger numbers have jumped from nearly 53 million to 76 million. This includes breaking records for both daily flights and passenger numbers during the peak summer season.”