Istanbul Airport Named World’s Best Airport for Second Year in a Row

For the second consecutive year, Istanbul Airport in Turkey has been named the world’s best airport in a survey conducted by leading travel magazine Travel + Leisure. The airport, which is also the largest in Europe, received a score of 98. 57 out of 100, an improvement from last year’s score of 95. 79.

The award was presented to Corporate Communications Director Gökhan Şengül at a ceremony in New York by the airport’s operator, iGA Istanbul Airport. In the survey, airports were evaluated on various factors such as accessibility, check-in experience, security, dining options, shopping, and overall design.

This is not the first time Istanbul Airport has been recognized by Travel + Leisure. It first entered the magazine’s prestigious ranking in 2021, making it the first Turkish airport to do so. This year, Istanbul Airport was followed by other prominent airports in Singapore, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, India, and Hong Kong, solidifying its position as a top airport on the global stage.

In addition to being named the world’s best airport, Istanbul Airport has also achieved various other milestones. Last year, it became Europe’s second-busiest airport and has since then started simultaneous triple runway operations in April of this year. This makes it the first airport in Europe and the second in the world, after the United States, to have three runways.

In terms of passenger traffic, Istanbul Airport handled around 80 million passengers in 2024, making it the largest and second-busiest airport in Europe. It also earned the title of Europe’s busiest air cargo hub in 2024, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe’s 2024 Annual Traffic Report.

Overall, Istanbul Airport’s continuous efforts to improve its services and facilities have not gone unnoticed, making it a top choice for travelers globally. With its strategic location and efficient operations, it is no surprise that it has been named the world’s best airport for a second year in a row.