Sabiha Gökçen Named Europe's Fastest-Growing Airport Hub
Sabiha Gökçen Airport Becomes Europe’s Fastest-Growing Hub
Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has emerged as Europe’s fastest-growing major airport, serving over 40 million passengers, according to the 2025 ACI Europe World Airport Traffic Report.
Passenger numbers at Sabiha Gökçen rose 16.7% in 2025, reaching 48.41 million travelers. Meanwhile, Istanbul Airport remained Europe’s second busiest, with 84.44 million passengers, narrowly behind London Heathrow’s 84.48 million.
Leading European Airports by Passenger Traffic
- London Heathrow (LHR): 84.48 million
- Istanbul Airport (IST): 84.44 million
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 72.02 million
- Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): 68.77 million
- Madrid-Barajas (MAD): 68.12 million
All showed steady growth, reinforcing Europe's strong aviation recovery.
Top European Airports by Freight Traffic
In freight traffic, Frankfurt Airport reclaimed the top spot.
Frankfurt (FRA): 1.99 million tons, slightly ahead of Istanbul (IST): 1.97 million tons.
Paris, London, and Amsterdam followed, rounding out the top five cargo hubs.
Aviation Analysis: Sabiha Gökçen’s rapid growth highlights Istanbul’s rise as a key European aviation hub, with the city's two airports collectively handling over 132 million passengers in 2025. This dual-hub strategy is positioning Istanbul as a formidable competitor to traditional European aviation capitals.
