IGA Istanbul Airport has introduced a new system allowing it to operate flights from its three runways at the same time.
The Turkish hub said the “triple runway operations”, which were launched last week with three Turkish Airlines taking off simultaneously, would allow Istanbul to increase its hourly capacity from 120 to 148 flights.
“The additional 28 aircraft movements per hour mean shorter waiting times for airlines, fewer delays for passengers and reduced carbon emissions for the environment,” said the airport in a statement.
Istanbul was already ranked as the second busiest European airport in 2024 – behind London Heathrow – according to figures from Airports Council International (ACI) World. It catered for 80.1 million passengers last year but has its sights set on eventually serving 200 million travellers annually.
Mehmet Kalyoncu, board member of Istanbul Airport, said: “This is not only a technical achievement for us, but also a strategic milestone. We have taken a significant step toward our goal of becoming one of the leading centres equipped with advanced technologies in global aviation.
“This means not only Istanbul, but also Europe’s airspace will become more efficient. Istanbul is no longer just a destination - it is now a global air transport hub.”
One of the main beneficiaries of the increase in flight capacity at Istanbul Airport will be Turkish Airlines.
Ahmet Bolat, chairman of Turkish Airlines’ board, added: “We are proud to be part of yet another historic moment for Turkish aviation. With the simultaneous take-off of three of our aircraft, our main hub, IGA Istanbul Airport has achieved a first in Europe.
“This operational capacity will enhance the efficiency of our flights and serve as a significant milestone on our path toward continued growth.”