Istanbul Airport has been named Europe’s busiest airport for the fourth consecutive year, handling an impressive 84 million passengers in 2025. The airport, one of two located in the Turkish city, managed to maintain its leading position despite the challenges faced by the aviation sector in recent years. With an average of 1,490 flights arriving and departing each day, Istanbul Airport outperformed its competitors significantly.
Flight Traffic and Rankings
According to a report by flight compensation specialists SkyRefund, a total of 11.2 million flights took off across Europe in 2025, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. Following Istanbul, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol claimed the second spot with 1,351 daily flights, while London Heathrow retained its third place with 1,315 flights per day. The top five is rounded out by Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, which saw 1,314 and 1,261 flights, respectively.
Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of SkyRefund, described the year as a “paradox for European air travel.” He noted that while the industry experienced a recovery toward pre-pandemic traffic levels and a significant reduction in flight cancellations, passengers faced persistent delays. Nearly 25% of flights did not arrive on time, leading to possible compensation under EU261/UK261 regulations.
Shifts in Travel Patterns
The study highlights notable shifts in travel patterns, particularly for leisure destinations. Airports in Spain, Italy, and Turkey showed strong growth as demand for holiday travel surged. Notably, Turkey had two airports in the top ten, with Antalya Airport ranking sixth and Rome Fiumicino following closely in seventh. Gatwick Airport, the second largest in the UK, secured the eighth position, while Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca completed the list.
This reshuffling of rankings reflects how travel preferences have evolved since 2019. Experts have observed that domestic and short-haul travel has rebounded robustly, while long-distance routes are gradually returning to pre-COVID levels. The recovery has prompted airlines to adapt their routes and frequencies to meet changing passenger demands.
As travel continues to grow, passengers are encouraged to remain aware of their rights regarding delays and cancellations. A delay of three hours can entitle travellers to compensation of up to €600 (£522), regardless of the airline’s reasons for the disruption.
