Sabiha Gökçen Airport Ranked 9th Busiest in Europe 2025
Sabiha Gökçen Enters Top 10 Busiest Airports in Europe
Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (ISG) continues to strengthen its position on the European aviation map. By the end of 2025, it ranked 9th among the ten busiest airports in Europe, according to the latest report from the UK aviation analytics platform OAG, titled “Busiest Airports in the World 2025.”
Record Passenger Growth
The report shows that ISG handled 48.4 million passengers in 2024, a key factor that helped the airport significantly improve its ranking.
OAG evaluates airport traffic based on available seat capacity. By this measure, Sabiha Gökçen increased its capacity by 15% compared to the previous year.
Increased Capacity
The airport’s total seat capacity reached 28.6 million seats in one direction (semi-route), enabling ISG to confidently enter the top ten European aviation hubs.
- 📈 Seat capacity growth: +15%
- ✈️ Passenger traffic: 48.4 million
- 🏆 Europe ranking: 9th place
The Only New Entrant in the Top 10
Notably, Sabiha Gökçen is the only new airport to join Europe’s top 10. In 2024, it ranked 11th, climbing two positions in the latest ranking.
The airport’s growth reflects Istanbul’s rising importance as a major aviation hub for both Europe and the Middle East. Experts attribute these results to expansion of route networks, increased low-cost carrier activity, and steady growth in both tourist and business travel to Turkey.
ISG’s success also underscores the strategic significance of Istanbul’s second airport for the country’s economy and international air traffic.
Note: Rankings are based on the OAG report's methodology focusing on seat capacity. Passenger numbers for 2024 are cited as the contributing factor to the 2025 ranking achievement.
