Istanbul Airport has risen to the top of the ranking of the world's most connected aviation hubs

Istanbul Airport has been named the world’s most connected aviation hub, according to the Megahubs 2026 report produced by global travel intelligence company OAG. The Turkish airport rose from second place to first, with connections to 337 destinations worldwide.

Turkish Airlines operates approximately 80% of the flights from the airport. London Heathrow dropped to second place after the number of potential connections on the busiest day fell by 6% compared with last year, partly due to disruptions to flight schedules in the Middle East.

Amsterdam Schiphol ranks third, while Kuala Lumpur remains in fourth place and is still the most connected airport in Asia, with 154 destinations. Chicago O’Hare rose to fifth place and leads the ranking for the Americas.

The Asia-Pacific region dominates the rankings, with eight airports in the top 20. Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun and Hong Kong recorded significant increases. Kuala Lumpur also leads the low-cost hub rankings, with nearly 15,000 possible connections.

Istanbul Airport is set to expand its infrastructure through the opening of a fourth runway, measuring 2,820 metres long and 45 metres wide. The total number of runways will reach six.