Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Istanbul Airport surpassed Frankfurt, Europe’s largest cargo hub, by handling 1.97 million tonnes of freight in 2024.
Istanbul Leads Air Cargo Transport in Europe
According to data released by the Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE), Istanbul Airport grew by 39.6% in cargo transportation in 2024, claiming the top spot. Minister Uraloğlu emphasised that if this momentum continues, Istanbul is set to become one of the world’s most significant logistics hubs.
Europe’s Busiest Airports by Cargo Traffic
2024 air cargo transport data:
- Istanbul Airport – 1.97 million tonnes
- Frankfurt Airport – 1.95 million tonnes
- Paris-Charles De Gaulle – 1.87 million tonnes
- London Heathrow – 1.53 million tonnes
- Amsterdam Schiphol – 1.49 million tonnes
- Leipzig/Halle – 1.38 million tonnes
Leipzig/Halle Airport, which had previously ranked in the top five, dropped to sixth place, making room for Istanbul at the top of the list.
Record Passenger Growth at Istanbul Airport
In 2024, Istanbul Airport welcomed 80.1 million passengers, marking a 5.3% increase. Compared to pre-pandemic 2019 figures, the airport recorded a growth of 16.9%, making it the fastest-growing airport in the ‘Major Airports’ category.
