Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport Expands as Key Gateway to Aegean

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Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB), managed by TAV Airports, has emerged as a vital gateway to Turkey’s picturesque Aegean region. Serving Izmir, the country’s third-largest city, ADB welcomed over 10.7 million passengers in 2023, marking a notable 9% increase in overall traffic. International passenger numbers surged by 11%, reaching 4.2 million. The upward trend has continued into 2024, with the airport experiencing a remarkable 15.2% growth in international passenger traffic during the first eight months.

The airport offers more than 90 direct connections through 39 airlines, including well-known carriers such as SunExpress, Pegasus Airlines, Ajet, Corendon, Jet2.com, and easyJet. Recent expansions have particularly focused on enhancing connections to the Balkans, with new routes established to cities like Pristina, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Tirana, and Tivat. Additionally, Wizz Air has introduced a seasonal service from Bucharest, operating three times a week. British Airways has resumed scheduled flights from London Heathrow, which had previously been chartered in 2019, while Jet2.com has expanded its summer schedule with increased flights from the UK.

In 2023, SunExpress launched new routes to popular destinations including Barcelona, Venice, Saarbrücken, Abu Dhabi, and Samarkand, while Transavia began seasonal flights to Paris-Orly. ADB is committed to further enhancing its connectivity, having launched 10 new routes in 2023 and aiming to increase this number to 15 by the end of August 2024.

Recognized for its exceptional customer service and dedication to sustainability, ADB received the ASQ (Airport Service Quality) “Best Airport” Award in both 2024 and 2022. The airport has also achieved “carbon neutral” status at level 3+ from Airport Carbon Accreditation, underscoring its commitment to environmentally responsible operations.

As a participant in Routes 360, the only digital platform dedicated to route development, ADB has actively uploaded multiple route opportunities to enhance connectivity across currently unserved routes throughout Europe and the Middle East. The airport is targeting several key unserved destinations, including:

  • Almaty International Airport (ALA)
  • Bahrain International Airport (BAH)
  • Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
  • Hamad International Airport (DOH)
  • Manas International Airport (FRU)
  • Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
  • Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH)
  • Algiers Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG)
  • Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN)
  • Cairo International Airport (CAI)
  • Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT)
  • Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
  • Riga International Airport (RIX)
  • Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)
  • Billund Airport (BLL)
  • Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE)
  • Valencia Airport (VLC)
  • Porto Airport (OPO)
  • Marseille Provence Airport (MRS)
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL)
  • Muscat International Airport (MCT)
  • Erbil International Airport (EBL)

As ADB continues to enhance its services and expand its network, it solidifies its position as a key player in Turkey’s aviation landscape, catering to millions of travelers seeking to explore the Aegean region and beyond.

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