Istanbul: The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport, situated on the Asian side of Turkey's largest city, experienced its busiest day ever with 179,789 passengers across 935 flights on August 9, according to the air hub's authority, Airport Management and Aeronautical Industries (HEAS).

According to Anadolu Agency, 56.5% of the record-breaking day's flights were international, while 43.5% were domestic. Similarly, international flights accounted for 56% of passenger traffic, with the remaining 44% being domestic. The airport saw a balanced distribution of incoming and outgoing passengers, with incoming passengers constituting 50.4% of the total traffic and outgoing passengers making up 49.6%.

Faruk Kacir, general manager of HEAS, remarked that the new record for the airport's operational capacity was an indication of its service quality and reliability. He emphasized their ongoing dedication to advancing Sabiha Gokcen Airport's operations, ensuring continuous and safe service.

The authority, HEAS, in collaboration with terminal operator Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (ISG), managed the substantial passenger and flight traffic throughout the day. HEAS ensured air traffic, apron, runway, and other operations were uninterrupted, while ISG teams efficiently handled passenger flow, security, cleaning, guidance, and passenger experience processes.

These coordinated efforts maintained operational continuity despite the heavy volume, surpassing the previous record of 174,325 passengers on 919 flights set on August 2, 2026, with the updated announcement marking the latest achievement.