New data reveals which airports are the best-connected in the world.
IGA Istanbul Airport has been named the world’s most transfer-friendly airport, based on data for the first two quarters of 2024 compiled by aviation analytics platform Cirium.
Opened just six years ago in 2018, the airport operates 309 nonstop flights to destinations around the world, most of them with Turkish Airlines, which serves more countries than any other airline.
IGA Istanbul Airport named the world’s most transfer-friendly airport. Results – stock.adobe.com
“Our strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia allows us to serve as a key hub for international travel,” the airport’s CEO Selahattin Birgen said in a statement to CNN.
“We have also proven ourselves to be the most resilient airport, recovering faster than any other airport in history following the COVID-19 pandemic and reaching pre-pandemic passenger numbers faster than any other airport in the world.”
Istanbul Airport operates 309 direct flights to destinations around the world. Nate Hovee – stock.adobe.com
Istanbul Airport is a global hub airport, serving approximately 90 million passengers per year with an annual processing capacity of 200 million, making it the seventh busiest airport in the world.
The next busiest airports after Istanbul Airport are Frankfurt with 296 direct flights, Paris Charles de Gaulle with 282 flights, and Amsterdam Schiphol with 270 flights.
Istanbul Airport will be open for just six years in 2018. Sergey – stock.adobe.com
In North America, Chicago O’Hare is the busiest airport and is tied for fourth place with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with 270 nonstop flights.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport ranked seventh, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport ranked ninth, and just outside the top 10 was Denver International Airport at 11th, with 229 nonstop flights.
According to Cirium, the top 10 most connected airports in the world are:
1. Istanbul Airport (309 direct destinations)
2. Frankfurt Airport (296)
3. Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (282)
4. TIE: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (270)
Tied for 4th place: 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)