In a historic moment, the Istanbul International Airport (IST), Turkey, welcomed its 100th airline when Air China initiated a connection from Beijing (PEK), China, to operate three times a week on an Airbus A330-300. This is the fourth Chinese airline at the Turkish airport, following China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines.
It is noteworthy that the achievement of 100 airlines in Istanbul coincides with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. The airport is one of the most important global hubs in the world. Thus, Istanbul entered the exclusive «Club of 100», joining only Paris/Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Bangkok (BKK), each serving around 105 airlines.
Selahattin Bilgen, Deputy General Manager of Istanbul Airport, revealed that they would end 2023 with 76 million passengers mobilized, representing a real growth of 12% compared to the same period in 2019. For 2024, they anticipate reaching 85 million passengers mobilized. In addition to incorporating new airlines, the airport serves as the main hub for Turkish Airlines, offering connectivity to more than 300 destinations due to its geographical position and representing 80% of the airport’s seating capacity.
In 2023, about 20 airlines inaugurated their operations in Istanbul, including airBaltic, Air China, Air Samarkand, China Eastern, China Southern, Easyjet, Dan Air, Fly Arystan, Israir, Karun Airlines, Korean Air, Medsky Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Southwind, Sun d’Or, Thai Airways, Ural Airlines, Yazd Airlines, Wizz Air Hungary, and Wizz Air UK.
The airport authorities announced that five more airlines would be added in the first six months of 2024, including Norwegian (Oslo).
See Also: EFW inaugurates facilities in Istanbul with Turkish Technic
Airlines in Istanbul by Region:
- Africa: Afriqiyah Airways, Air Algerie, Air Arabia Maroc, Air Cairo, Badr Airlines, Berniq Air, Crown Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Oya, Libyan Airlines, Libyan Wings, Medsky Airlines, Nouvelair, Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair.
- Central Asia: Air Astana, Air Samarkand, FlyArystan, Qanot Shark, SCAT, Somon Air, Turkemenistan Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines.
- East Asia: Air China, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Korean Air, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines
- South Asia: Ariana Afghan Airlines, Indigo, Kam Air, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
- Southeast Asia: Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines.
- Europe: Aegean, Air Albania, airBaltic, Air France, Air Montenegro, Air Serbia, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, British Airways, Easyjet, Fly One (Armenia and Moldova), Freebird Airlines, Hi Sky, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Smartwings, Southwind, TAROM, Transavia, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air (Hungary, Malta, and UK).
- Middle East: Air Arabia, El Al, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Fly Baghdad, Flyadeal, Flydubai, Fly Jordan, Flynas, Gulf Air, Iraqi Airways, Israir, Jazeera Airways, Jordan Aviation, Kuwait Airways, Middle East Airlines, Oman Air, Pegasus, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Salamair, Saudi, Sun d’Or, UR Airlines.
- Iran: ATA Airlines, Caspian Airlines, Iran Airlines, Iran Aseman Airlines, Iran Airtour, Karun Airlines, Mahan Air, Meraj Airlines, Queshim, Taban Airlines, Yazd Airways.
- Russia: Azimuth, Aeroflot, irAero, Ikar, Pobeda, Red Wings Airlines, Rossiya, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, Utair.
