Europe's air traffic continues to be heavily reliant on Turkish skies, according to a recent report
In early September 2021, Turkey's skies were among the busiest in Europe, according to data provided by EUROCONTROL. The traffic in Turkey's airspace exceeded pre-pandemic benchmarks, with an impressive 19% increase compared to 2019 levels.
Two major airports, Antalya and Istanbul, played significant roles in this surge. Antalya Airport's daily flight traffic during the week of September 1-7 placed it in the top 10 airports in Europe. The airport recorded 1,024 daily flights, a figure that was down 3% from the prior week but still 4% above 2024 and 13% above pre-pandemic levels. This strong performance during the week of September 1-7 earned Antalya a spot in the European top 10.
Istanbul Airport, on the other hand, not only secured its position at the top of the European rankings but also maintained its fifth spot among the world's busiest airports. The airport recorded an average of 1,624 daily flights during the same week, a decrease of 1% compared with the previous week but still 6% higher than in 2024 and an impressive 26% above 2019 levels.
Turkish Airlines, one of Europe's leading carriers, also maintained its position during the week of September 1-7. The airline operated an average of 1,772 daily flights, which remained the same as the previous week but was 13% higher year-on-year and 21% above 2019 levels.
Turkey ranked sixth among Europe's top 10 aviation markets by flight volume during this period. It was ahead of Greece, the Netherlands, and Poland in flight volume. However, there was a 2% decrease in traffic compared to the previous week, but it was still 9% higher than the same period in 2024.
The weekly decrease in flight traffic was primarily due to reduced flows between Turkey and the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Belgium, and Greece. Despite this decrease, the overall trend shows a significant recovery in Turkey's aviation sector compared to the same period in 2024 and 2019.
In conclusion, Turkey's skies were buzzing with activity in early September 2021, with Antalya and Istanbul airports playing key roles in Europe's busiest air traffic. The data, provided by EUROCONTROL, highlights the recovery of Turkey's aviation sector and the continued growth of Turkish Airlines as one of Europe's leading carriers.
