The fourth runway at Istanbul Airport and additional investments will make major contributions to the major air hub's global connectivity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, addressing the runway’s opening ceremony.
Air passenger traffic across Türkiye in the first eight months of 2026 topped 167.5 million, nearly twice the country's population, he noted.
“In Istanbul alone, we have made a total of 2.12 trillion Turkish liras ($43.5 billion) in investments in transportation and infrastructure at current prices, including 604.4 billion Turkish liras ($12.4 billion) in air transport," Erdogan said.
The newly commissioned runway is 2,820 metres (1.75 miles) long and 45 metres (147.6 feet) wide, marking the airport’s first east-west runway.
Pointing to Türkiye's flight network, one of the world's most extensive, Erdogan said that in the last 24 years, under Justice and Development (AK) Party governance, the number of active airports more than doubled from 26 to 58.
"Together with our nation, we have made a Türkiye that is strong at home, influential in its region, and respected around the world into a reality," he added.
World’s most connected airport
His remarks came a day after Istanbul Airport was named the world’s most connected aviation hub by global travel intelligence company OAG, overtaking London Heathrow for the first time.
Istanbul Airport climbed from second place in 2025 to the top of the global ranking, with connections to 337 destinations worldwide.
Turkish Airlines operated 80 percent of flights at the airport, according to OAG’s Megahubs 2026 report. London Heathrow dropped to second place after potential connections on its busiest day fell 6 percent year-on-year, partly due to ongoing disruptions to Middle East flight schedules.
Amsterdam Schiphol ranked third, while Kuala Lumpur retained fourth place and remained the most connected airport in Asia. Chicago O’Hare climbed from seventh to fifth globally and remained the most connected airport in the Americas.
