Istanbul Airport has been named the world’s most connected aviation hub, overtaking London Heathrow to take the top position in OAG’s Megahubs 2026 ranking.
The Turkish hub climbed from second place in 2025 to first, offering connections to 337 destinations worldwide. Turkish Airlines accounts for approximately 80% of flights operating from Istanbul Airport, highlighting the airline’s major role in the airport’s global connectivity.
London Heathrow dropped to second place, with potential connections on its busiest day falling 6% year-on-year, partly affected by disruptions to Middle East schedules. Amsterdam Schiphol ranked third after recording growth in both connections and destinations.
In Asia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport retained fourth place globally and remained the most connected airport in Asia, serving 154 destinations. It also topped OAG’s Low-Cost Carrier Megahubs ranking, with nearly 15,000 possible low-cost connections.
The Asia Pacific region dominated the global rankings, accounting for eight of the top 20 most connected airports. Chinese airports recorded significant improvements, with Shanghai Pudong rising from 19th to 14th, while Guangzhou Baiyun climbed from 36th to 19th. Hong Kong International Airport also returned to the global top 20, ranking 20th.
Meanwhile, Chicago O’Hare rose from seventh to fifth globally and remained the most connected airport in the Americas.
