Asia Pacific airports lead the world in connectivity as
Istanbul Airport reached 337 destinations and displaced London Heathrow as OAG said Asia Pacific held eight of the top 20 hubs.
- On Wednesday, travel data provider OAG named Istanbul Airport the world's most connected hub in its 'Megahubs 2026' report, with 337 destinations, displacing London Heathrow Airport to second place.
- London Heathrow's potential connections fell 6% year-on-year, reflecting ongoing disruptions to Middle East flight schedules, while Istanbul's rise reflects Turkish Airlines' network strength and the airport's geographic position as a connecting hub.
- The Asia-Pacific dominates the global top 20 with eight airports, while Chinese aviation has 'finally shaken off the residual effects of the pandemic,' OAG said, with Shanghai Pudong, Baiyun International, and Hong Kong International improving their rankings.
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport retained fourth position globally and first in Asia, topping the Low-Cost Carrier Megahubs index with nearly 15,000 connections, as low-cost carriers operate 51% of seats across Southeast Asia versus 34% globally.
- The 2026 rankings reflect a global aviation landscape 'still recalibrating after significant disruption,' according to OAG, as Mayur Patel, Head of APAC at OAG, noted low-cost carriers have 'reshaped Southeast Asian connectivity.
23 Articles
23 Articles
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Istanbul Airport takes 1st place globally with connections to 337 destinations as Turkish Airlines operates 80% of flights at airport
Istanbul Airport, Turkey, surpassed London-Heathrow Airport and took the lead in ranking the world's most connected airports in 2026.
Istanbul Airport has been named the world's most connected airport by 2026, overtaking London Heathrow. According to the latest OAG index, Istanbul has connections to 337 destinations worldwide, topping the list of air megahubs. Heathrow has dropped to second place, with connections down 6 percent compared to last year. According to OAG, the suspension of flights to the Middle East has also had an impact. The top 10 also includes Amsterdam in th…
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