89 million people used air travel in Turkey in 5 months

Minister Uraloğlu made a written statement regarding the plane, passenger and cargo data for May by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ).

Reporting that the number of planes landing and taking off at passenger and environmentally friendly airports last month was 83,854 for domestic flights and 78,110 for international flights, Uraloğlu stated that the total air traffic, including overflights, reached 203,867.

Uraloğlu pointed out that domestic passenger traffic was 9,200,832 and international passenger traffic was 12,331,388 in May, stating, "In May, a total of 21,539,524 passengers were served at our airports including direct transit passengers. The cargo volume transported in May reached a total of 458,234 tons, with 79,480 tons domestically and 378,754 tons internationally."

89 million passengers in the first 5 months

Noting that the aircraft traffic landing and taking off at airports in the January-May period was 379,883 for domestic and 319,236 for international flights, Uraloğlu said that with overflights included, total aircraft traffic reached 892,160.

Uraloğlu underlined that domestic passenger traffic at airports nationwide was 40,628,036 and international passenger traffic was 48,362,631, sharing the following information:

"During this period, a total of 89,036,395 passengers were served, including direct transit passengers. In five months, the number of people traveling by air nationwide exceeded Turkey's population. When compared to the same period last year, the total passenger traffic including direct transit increased by 4% by the end of May 2026. In this period, airport cargo traffic reached a total of 2,014,761 tons, with 355,244 tons domestically and 1,659,516 tons internationally."

Istanbul Airport hosted more than 32 million passengers

Uraloğlu stated that at Istanbul Airport, one of Turkey's mega projects, the aircraft traffic in May reached a total of 45,675, comprising 10,626 domestic and 35,049 international flights, adding that 7,123,268 passengers were served, with 1,524,941 on domestic flights and 5,598,327 on international flights.

He pointed out that in the January-May period, the airport recorded a total aircraft traffic of 216,603, with 47,625 domestic and 168,978 international flights, and a total passenger traffic of 32,802,275, with 6,690,023 domestic and 26,112,252 international passengers.

Regarding Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Uraloğlu said that the aircraft traffic in May was 23,696, with 11,340 domestic and 12,356 international flights, and passenger traffic was 4,061,248, comprising 1,984,920 domestic and 2,076,328 international passengers. For January-May, total aircraft traffic was 112,067, including 49,239 domestic and 62,828 international flights, and passenger traffic was 19,313,385, with 8,766,427 domestic and 10,546,958 international passengers. He also noted that Istanbul Atatürk Airport's aircraft traffic was 2,238 in May and 10,488 in the five-month period."

16.3 million passengers served in tourism centers

Uraloğlu stated that the number of passengers served at airports in tourism centers reached 16,301,599 in the January-May period, with 7,390,957 domestic and 8,910,642 international passengers, and total aircraft traffic was 116,841, with 56,921 domestic and 59,920 international flights in these regions.

He reported that during this period, İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport served 4,811,757 passengers, Antalya Airport 9,169,801 passengers, Muğla Dalaman Airport 1,140,133 passengers, Muğla Milas-Bodrum Airport 940,330, and Gazipaşa Alanya Airport 239,578 passenger traffic.