AIR CARG O WEEK
WORLD AIRPORTS
WELCOME TO THE MIDDLE EAST طسوألا قرشلا يف مكب ًالهأ
BY Anastasiya SIMSEK F
“Türkiye is growing, Turkish Airlines is soaring.”
rom Istanbul to Abu Dhabi, airports are adding runways, revamping terminals, and ramping up cargo infrastructure. Airlines are chasing growth in high-margin segments like e-commerce and pharma, while doubling down on freighters and reshaping networks to match the new trade reality.
In this report, we look at how the region’s biggest hubs ended 2025 - and what they’re planning for 2026.
IGA İstanbul Airport Hoş Geldiniz İstanbul iGA Istanbul Airport closed 2025 with 84.4 million passengers and 549,309 aircraft movements, reinforcing its status as a key global gateway. The hub now connects to over 330 destinations - 309 of them non-stop - through 116 airline partners, making it the most connected airport in Europe for the second consecutive year, according to ACI Europe. Operationally, iGA remains a standout. As the first European airport
to implement triple runway operations, it has reached a movement capacity of 148 per hour. The integration of biometric boarding systems has reduced boarding times by 30 percent, part of a broader digital infrastructure strategy that also includes RFID baggage tracking and AI-powered customer tools. On the sustainability front, the airport has committed to reaching
net zero emissions by 2050. A €212 million investment in the Eskişehir solar power plant will enable iGA to supply 100 percent of its terminal energy from solar. Its renewables target has been raised from 50 to 90
percent by 2030. A climate adaptation plan developed with TÜBİTAK aims to embed long-term resilience into its operations. Recognition has followed: the airport is one of only six globally to
achieve ACI Level 5 Customer Experience accreditation and has been named “Best Airport in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler three times in the past four years.
A US$2.3 billion cargo bet 2,3 Milyar Dolarlık Kargo Yatırımı Turkish Airlines has announced a US$2.3 billion investment to build what it says will be the world’s largest air cargo terminal at Istanbul Airport, alongside a new in-flight catering facility. The move signals a major expansion of the airline’s logistics infrastructure, as cargo continues to play a central role in its long-term growth strategy. The terminal is expected to handle several million tonnes of freight
annually - well above the carrier’s current volumes, which are already close to 2 million tonnes per year. The catering complex, designed for scalability and improved quality control, will serve Turkish Airlines’ global passenger network, the largest in terms of countries served. According to the airline, the project will create approximately 26,000
jobs across logistics, ground handling, supply chain, and catering services. Executives have described the development as both a strategic aviation investment and an economic initiative, reinforcing Istanbul’s position as a logistics and passenger hub across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
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