Istanbul Airport dominated the European skies in 2023, retaining the title as the busiest airport in Europe.
This is the second year in a row that Istanbul Airport registered the highest number of passengers in Europe, with the most recent European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) report revealing that the airport saw an increased number of flights, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to Eurocontrol, Istanbul Airport had an average of 1,375 daily flights in 2023, with a new record being set on June 22, 2023, when the airport registered a total of 1,864 flights in a single day.
iGA Istanbul finished the year in top position for the second year in a row with 1,375 average daily flights. It established a new airport network record with 1,684 flights on June 22, 2023.
Eurocontrol
Data provided by Eurocontrol show that Istanbul Airport registered an increase of 19 percent in the number of flights in 2023 compared to 2022.
In addition, the airport also saw an increased number of flights last year compared to 2019, but the exact percentage was not provided.
While Istanbul Airport was the first in terms of flights last year, the case is not the same when it comes to punctuality.
According to Eurostat, Istanbul Airport was the sixth most punctual airport in Europe in 2023. The airport had a punctuality rate of 69 percent last year, equal to Copenhagen Airport.
Apart from being the busiest airport, Istanbul Airport was also previously ranked by VisaGuide.World as the second most stressful airport in the world. The airport has a passenger density of around 0.84 and a 31.5 percent delay rate, making it one of the most stressful airports.
In addition to Istanbul Airport, Eurocontrol’s list of busiest airports includes another nine. Amsterdam Airport was the second busiest airport last year, with an average of 1,255 daily flights – ten percent more than in 2022.
The airport was followed by London Heathrow, which secured the third spot. According to Eurocontrol, London Heathrow Airport has an average of 1,251 daily flights in 2023, representing a 20 percent increase from 2022.
The fourth and fifth spots were secured by Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport, respectively. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport had an average of 1,247 daily flights, and Frankfurt Airport had an average of 1,179 daily flights in 2023.
The top ten list of the busiest airports in 2023 further includes Madrid Barajas Airport, Barcelona Airport, Munich Airport, Rome Fiumicino Airport, and London Gatwick Airport.
