Istanbul Airport has officially surpassed Amsterdam Schiphol to claim third place in Europe's air cargo rankings, processing over 4 million tonnes of freight annually. The milestone reflects years of strategic infrastructure investment and positions Turkey as an indispensable node in global supply chains connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
The Rankings Shift: How Istanbul Overtook Schiphol
For decades, the top three European air cargo hubs were dominated by Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam Schiphol — in that order. Istanbul's rise to third place is the result of a combination of factors: massive infrastructure investment, a rapidly growing national carrier, Turkey's expanding export economy, and the airport's unique geographic position at the crossroads of three continents.
According to Airports Council International (ACI) data for 2024, Istanbul Airport handled 4.12 million tonnes of air cargo, compared to Schiphol's 3.98 million tonnes. Frankfurt retained its top position with 5.1 million tonnes, followed by Paris CDG at 4.6 million tonnes. The gap between Istanbul and Schiphol is expected to widen further in 2025 as Turkish Cargo continues its aggressive network expansion.
European Air Cargo Hub Rankings (2024)
- 1st — Frankfurt Airport: 5.1 million tonnes
- 2nd — Paris Charles de Gaulle: 4.6 million tonnes
- 3rd — Istanbul Airport: 4.12 million tonnes ▲
- 4th — Amsterdam Schiphol: 3.98 million tonnes ▼
- 5th — London Heathrow: 3.7 million tonnes
The Infrastructure Behind the Achievement
Istanbul Airport's cargo terminal is one of the most modern in the world. The dedicated cargo complex spans 1.4 million square meters and includes state-of-the-art facilities for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, and oversized cargo. The terminal operates 24/7 with automated sorting systems capable of processing 4,000 tonnes per day.
The airport's cargo apron can accommodate 50 wide-body freighter aircraft simultaneously, and a dedicated cargo road network connects directly to the E-80 motorway, enabling rapid landside distribution across Turkey and into neighboring countries via road freight.
Turkish Cargo's Network Expansion
Turkish Cargo, the air freight division of Turkish Airlines, has been a key driver of Istanbul's cargo hub status. The carrier now operates freighter services to over 100 destinations worldwide, with a fleet that includes Boeing 777F, 747-400F, and Airbus A330-200F aircraft. In 2024, Turkish Cargo carried 1.8 million tonnes of freight, making it one of the top 10 air cargo carriers globally.
The carrier has been particularly aggressive in developing routes to emerging markets in Africa, Central Asia, and South America — regions where Istanbul's geographic position provides a significant transit time advantage over competing hubs in Western Europe.
"Istanbul's geographic position — equidistant from major markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa — gives it a structural advantage that no amount of infrastructure investment can replicate elsewhere."
Geographic Advantage: The Istanbul Factor
Istanbul sits at a unique geographic crossroads. Within a 4-hour flight radius, the airport can reach markets covering over 1.5 billion people across 55 countries. This makes it an ideal transit hub for cargo moving between Asia and Europe, between the Middle East and North America, and between Africa and the rest of the world.
For Turkish exporters, this connectivity translates into competitive transit times and freight rates. A shipment from Istanbul to Dubai takes just 3 hours; to London, 4 hours; to New York, 11 hours. These transit times are comparable to or better than those achievable from competing European hubs, while Turkish origin freight avoids the additional handling and transit costs associated with trucking to a foreign hub.
The Transit Cargo Opportunity
Beyond Turkish origin and destination cargo, Istanbul is increasingly important as a transit hub. Cargo from China, India, and Southeast Asia transits through Istanbul en route to Europe and the Americas, while European goods transit Istanbul on their way to the Middle East and Africa. This transit business adds volume and frequency to the hub, creating a virtuous cycle that attracts more airlines and more cargo.
What This Means for Businesses Shipping from Turkey
For Turkish exporters and importers, Istanbul's hub status translates into tangible benefits:
- More direct flight options to more destinations, reducing transit times and handling risks
- Greater competition among airlines serving Istanbul, which helps keep freight rates competitive
- Better capacity availability, even during peak periods, due to the hub's scale
- Access to specialized cargo services — pharma, perishables, dangerous goods — that smaller airports cannot support
- Faster customs clearance due to the airport's investment in digital customs systems and pre-clearance programs
Looking Ahead: Can Istanbul Challenge Paris CDG?
Industry analysts believe Istanbul has a realistic path to second place in European cargo rankings within the next 3–5 years. The airport's Phase 3 expansion, currently under construction, will add a second cargo terminal and increase total capacity to 6 million tonnes per year. Combined with Turkish Cargo's continued fleet expansion and network growth, the conditions are in place for Istanbul to close the gap with Paris CDG.
For Turkey Air Cargo and our clients, this trajectory is excellent news. A larger, more connected hub means more options, better rates, and faster transit times — all of which translate directly into competitive advantages for Turkish exporters in global markets.
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