Istanbul Airport in Turkey has been named the world's best air hub for the first time, connecting to 337 global destinations. In the annual Megahubs 2026 report published by a global travel intelligence partner, it was able to elevate its position from second place in 2025 to first place. This success reflects the significant growth of Istanbul Airport and the increasing demand for air travel from this point.
Performance of Global Airports
Istanbul Airport, which operates 80% of its flights through Turkish Airlines, has maintained its superiority over other airports by increasing its number of destinations. In contrast, London Heathrow fell to second place due to a 6% decrease in connections on its busiest day compared to last year, particularly due to disruptions in Middle Eastern flight schedules.
Amsterdam Airport was also recognized as the third best airport in the world due to growth in its number of connections. In addition to increasing its number of destinations, it has successfully expanded its flight network. Kuala Lumpur Airport, maintaining its fourth position, has been recognized as the most popular airport in Asia, serving 154 destinations.
Changes in American Rankings
Chicago O'Hare Airport has risen from seventh place in 2025 to fifth in the world, achieving 308 destinations with a 9.8% increase in its connections. This airport is recognized as one of the major air hubs in the Americas and, with this growth, has been able to reduce the gap with Istanbul and Frankfurt airports, which have 337 and 310 destinations, respectively.
Overall, the Asia-Pacific region continues to dominate this list with eight out of the 20 best airports in the world. Chinese airports have also performed significantly well in this ranking; for example, Shanghai Pudong Airport rose from 19th to 14th, and Baiyun International Airport climbed from 36th to 19th.
In the low-cost airline airport sector, Kuala Lumpur Airport leads with nearly 15,000 possible connections. In this regard, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 64% of the top 25 airports with low-cost airlines.
Finally, it is worth noting that low-cost airlines in Southeast Asia account for 51% of all seats, while the global average is 34%. This statistic indicates a significant growth in demand for low-cost air travel in this region.
