Istanbul: Istanbul Airport in Trkiye has emerged as the world's most connected aviation hub, overtaking London Heathrow, which has been affected by ongoing disruptions to Middle East flight schedules. According to Anadolu Agency, the findings were disclosed in the Megahubs 2026 report published by global travel intelligence partner OAG. Istanbul Airport climbed to the top position for the first time, connecting passengers to 337 destinations worldwide. Turkish Airlines was responsible for operating 80% of the flights at the airport, further cementing its leading position.
London Heathrow, which previously held the top spot, slipped to second place due to a 6% year-on-year decline in potential connections on its busiest day. This decline was partly attributed to the disruptions affecting Middle East flight schedules. Amsterdam Schiphol maintained its third-place ranking by expanding both its connections and the destinations it serves. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur retained its fourth position and continued to lead as Asia's most connected airport with services to 154 destinations.
Chicago O'Hare made significant strides, climbing from seventh place in 2025 to fifth globally, thereby becoming the most connected airport in the Americas. The airport increased its potential connections by 9.8% and expanded its destinations from 297 to 308, achieving the third-widest international reach globally, following Istanbul and Frankfurt.
The Asia Pacific region demonstrated strong performance, securing eight of the top 20 positions in the global rankings. Notably, Chinese airports showed impressive gains, with Shanghai Pudong rising from 19th to 14th and Baiyun International jumping from 36th to 19th. Hong Kong also made a comeback into the top 20 by moving from 22nd to 20th place.
Kuala Lumpur excelled in the Low-Cost Carrier Megahubs Index, ranking first with nearly 15,000 possible low-cost connections. The Asia Pacific region accounted for a significant 64% of the top 25 low-cost airports. In Southeast Asia, low-cost carriers represented 51% of all seats, compared to a global average of 34%.