Istanbul Airport (IST) September 2025 Flight Statistics Report (Flight Volume, On-Time Performance, Cancellations)

Flight Volume and Growth Trends

In September 2025, Istanbul Airport (IST) handled 22,389 scheduled departures, a year‑on‑year change of +9.41%. The level reflects Istanbul’s role as a dual‑hub gateway linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with traffic supported by long‑haul connectivity and robust regional feeder flows. Growth concentrated around late‑evening and early‑morning wave banks as carriers optimized fleet utilization ahead of the winter timetable. Compared with the same period last year, network breadth expanded on select European and Central Asian routes, while domestic frequencies remained disciplined. Load patterns and seasonality after the summer peak continued to normalize, suggesting that infrastructure capacity and slot management are keeping pace with demand. The headline figure of 22,389 places the airport comfortably among the busiest hubs in its peer group. Continued airline upgauging and improved aircraft turns helped contain gate occupancy pressure, supporting the reported +9.41% rise without material strain on day‑to‑day operations.

On-Time Performance Analysis

The on‑time performance rate reached 69.99%, an improvement of +5.99 percentage points compared with a year earlier. Operational planners cited tighter block times, better stand allocation and closer coordination with air traffic control (ATC) during peak wave banks. Weather disruptions were short‑lived and largely confined to a handful of convective events, with minimal knock‑on effects across subsequent banks. Runway occupancy time improved as carriers aligned pushback times with departure sequencing, reducing tactical vectoring on departure. Compared with last autumn, ATC flow measures were calibrated earlier in the day, smoothing departure queues and elevating schedule reliability. While the 69.99% result is solid for a hub of this scale, further gains will depend on continued collaboration with network control centers and ground handling partners to mitigate variability during late‑evening peaks.

Cancellations and Operational Stability

Airlines operating at Istanbul Airport (IST) recorded 390 cancellations, a year‑on‑year change of -23.98%. Compared with the prior year, carriers leveraged spare aircraft and flexible crewing to protect rotations, reducing the need to pre‑emptively trim schedules. Weather‑related cancellations were lower than typical shoulder‑season norms, and technical withdrawals remained contained. Where cancellations did occur, they were concentrated within a small number of regional routes with limited aircraft substitution options. The decline of -23.98% highlights greater operational stability and more effective recovery playbooks, including quicker towing to remote stands and earlier decision points when irregular operations develop. Overall, the combination of a 69.99% on‑time performance rate and 390 cancellations indicates resilient operations despite brisk growth.

Overall Assessment and Outlook

Taken together, the metrics point to a well‑managed hub entering the winter season from a position of strength. Flight activity at 22,389 departures and an on‑time performance rate of 69.99% sit alongside materially fewer cancellations (390, -23.98% year‑on‑year). Near‑term risks include episodic weather and region‑wide ATC staffing constraints, but mitigants—such as dynamic stand planning and calibrated slot usage—are in place. With continued fleet upgauging and sustained demand on trans‑Eurasian corridors, Istanbul Airport (IST) is positioned to maintain throughput while improving schedule adherence. Capacity additions should be weighed against apron utilization and peak‑bank saturation to preserve the recent gain of +5.99 percentage points.

Travel Recommendations and Passenger Tips

Passengers can improve outcomes by choosing off‑peak departure windows, allowing extra time for connections during late‑evening banks, and monitoring airport advisories when convective weather is forecast. Use the NextFly App to follow flights, view boarding gate information, set gate change alerts and delay alerts, and receive an arrival reminder and baggage carousel reminder at destination—features designed to reduce uncertainty without relying on baggage tracking or lounge access. For checked bags, confirm minimum connection times and avoid tight turns on itineraries exposed to ATC flow measures. As schedule reliability hovers around an on‑time performance rate of 69.99%, booking slightly longer connection buffers and keeping calendars updated via calendar import can meaningfully lower risk in the upcoming month.