Praise for Istanbul Airport from CNN: The seventh busiest airport
Istanbul Airport became the world's most connected airport in the first half of 2024 with 316 direct flight destinations. A report by CNN International emphasized that the airport plays a strategic role as a bridge between East and West. CEO Selahattin Bilgen stated that they have proven their resilience by showing the fastest recovery after the pandemic.
12punto
Istanbul Airport ranked first among the 20 most connected airports by providing access to 316 direct flight destinations in the first 6 months of 2024. A report on the subject was also featured on CNN International.
In the CNN report, it was stated: "Located in a world-class position in Turkey where East meets West, Istanbul Airport operates 309 direct flights to destinations all around the world. Most of these are carried out by Turkish Airlines, which serves more countries than any other airline. This global hub, through which approximately 90 million passengers pass annually, is the seventh busiest airport in the world, with an annual capacity of 200 million passengers."
The airport's CEO, Selahattin Bilgen, said in his statement to CNN: "Our strategic location at the intersection of Europe and Asia allows us to serve as a vital hub for international travel. Furthermore, we have proven that we are the most resilient airport by achieving the fastest recovery to date after the Covid-19 pandemic and reaching our pre-pandemic passenger numbers before any other airport in the world."
Three airports from Europe occupy the top of the list: Frankfurt is 2nd, Paris Charles de Gaulle is 3rd, and Amsterdam Schiphol is 4th.
The list is as follows:
Istanbul Airport (309 unique direct flight destinations)
2. Frankfurt Airport (296)
3. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (282)
4. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (270)
4. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (270)
6. Dubai International Airport (269)
7. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (261)
8. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (243)
9. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (237)
10. Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (234)
11. Denver International Airport (229)
12. London Heathrow Airport (221)
13. Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (219)
14. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (218)
14. London Gatwick Airport (218)
16. Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport (217)
17. Barcelona El Prat Airport (209)
18. Beijing Capital International Airport (206)
19. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (202)
19. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (202)