Turkey's airspace became a bustling flight corridor in the first six months of 2026. According to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, a total of 1,113,986 flights were conducted in the January-June period. Of these, 237,919 were overflights. The density reached such a level that an aircraft passed through Turkish skies every 14 seconds.
In the same period, 471,870 domestic and 404,197 international flights were recorded. The total number of passengers, which was only 34.5 million in 2002, approached 112 million in the first half of 2026. While the number of countries with which Turkey has signed air transport agreements rose from 81 to 175, the number of international destinations served increased from 60 to 356.
Minister Uraloğlu: Aviation investments will continue
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that Turkey has historically been a crossroads of continents, civilizations, and ancient transport corridors. Reminding that the number of active airports, which was 26 in 2002, has now reached 58, Uraloğlu said, "We plan to complete the construction of Yozgat and Bayburt-Gümüşhane airports to bring the number to 60. We will reopen Aydın-Çıldır Airport for commercial flights after renovation. Due to the NATO summit, Etimesgut Airport has also started serving as both a protocol and backup airfield. In Trabzon, we will build a third airport over the sea."
Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that Turkey has joined the ranks of countries with the world's most extensive flight network. Noting that investments in aviation over the past 22 years have made flying accessible to the masses, Uraloğlu said, "We are at the center of 67 countries with a population of 1.5 billion and a total gross domestic product of $51.2 trillion within a four-hour flight radius."
Uraloğlu added that they will work to ensure Turkish civil aviation continues to be a rising star globally, improve service quality with a focus on passenger satisfaction, and provide the necessary equipment and implement people- and environment-oriented projects.
