Istanbul:US Ambassador to T¼rkiye Tom Barrack extended his congratulations to Istanbul Airport after it was ranked as the world's most connected airport by global travel data provider OAG.

"Istanbul Airport is now the most connected airport on earth - #1 in OAG's Megahubs 2026, ahead of Heathrow, with 337 destinations and nearly 90,000 possible connections on a single day," Barrack said on X.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ambassador also acknowledged the efforts of the airport's CEO, Selahattin Bilgen, and the entire team at airport operator IGA. Barrack emphasized T¼rkiye's strategic position as a global crossroads, noting that IGA has effectively established a significant aviation hub.

OAG's announcement in September placed Istanbul Airport at the top spot globally for connectivity, surpassing London Heathrow, which dropped to second place due to disruptions affecting schedules in the Middle East. Additionally, IGA Istanbul Airport handled 56.6 million passengers on 52,468 flights in the first eight months of the year.

In a separate accolade, Istanbul Airport was also named the world's best airport in a July survey conducted by the leading travel magazine Travel + Leisure.