Istanbul Airport named world’s best airport

Istanbul Airport, Turkey’s largest airport and Europe’s largest, has been named the world’s best airport for the second year in a row, according to user voting in a survey published by the prestigious US magazine Travel + Leisure, which has a readership of around 5 million.

“And if it’s possible, the airport got even better—securing a 98.57 score compared to last year’s 95.79. It’s extra impressive considering Istanbul Airport came in at No. 7 on the 2023 survey, with a reader score of 83.36,” Travel + Leisure notes when discussing the results of its 2025 “World’s Best Awards” survey.

“The Istanbul Airport officially opened in October 2018 and has made a name for itself ever since. One reader commented on the airport’s ‘light and airy design. Good signage.’ Another said, ‘It is a customer-oriented, reliable, and successful airport operation. I can say that it is the best airport in the world‘ the magazine adds.

According to the publication, airports are evaluated by readers on criteria such as accessibility, check-in experience, security, dining options, shopping and overall design. For its part, airport operator İGA, which is responsible for the management of Istanbul Airport, expressed its pride in receiving the award, which was presented during a ceremony held in New York by the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jacqueline Gifford.

Istanbul airport began operating simultaneously on three runways last April, making it the first in Europe and the second in the world – after the United States – to use this triple configuration, Anatolia news agency reported. The airport handled 80 million passengers last year, making it the second busiest airport in Europe, but also the busiest air cargo hub on the continent in 2024.

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