Istanbul Airport Named World’s Most Connected Aviation Hub

Istanbul Airport has been named the world’s most connected aviation hub, moving ahead of London Heathrow to claim the top position in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 ranking.

The Turkish airport rose from second place in 2025 to first, offering connections to 337 destinations worldwide. Turkish Airlines operates approximately 80% of flights from Istanbul Airport, playing a major role in the hub’s extensive global connectivity.

London Heathrow fell to second place, with potential connections on its busiest day declining 6% year-on-year, partly due to disruptions affecting Middle East schedules. Amsterdam Schiphol ranked third after recording growth in both connections and destinations.

In Asia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport retained fourth place globally and remained the region’s most connected airport, serving 154 destinations. It also ranked first in OAG’s Low-Cost Carrier Megahubs category, with nearly 15,000 possible low-cost connections.

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for eight of the top 20 most connected airports globally. Chinese airports recorded notable gains, with Shanghai Pudong Airport moving from 19th to 14th and Guangzhou Baiyun rising from 36th to 19th. Hong Kong International Airport also returned to the global top 20, ranking 20th.

In the Americas, Chicago O’Hare International Airport climbed from seventh to fifth globally and retained its position as the most connected airport in the region.

The rankings highlight the continuing importance of major international hubs in linking passengers to destinations across global aviation networks.