iGA Istanbul Airport, a global leader in connectivity, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the busiest hub in the United States, have signed a Sister Airport Agreement, marking a significant partnership between two major global aviation centers.

With this agreement, iGA Istanbul Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (CDA) have joined forces to advance their mutual goals of international connectivity and growth. Under the framework of the Sister Airport Agreement, the two airports will collaborate on joint projects in airport management, operations, customer service, planning, and sustainability aiming to generate strategic advantages for both parties.

The agreement is expected to not only increase passenger and cargo traffic between the two hubs but also further strengthen Istanbul’s position in the North American market. This partnership marks O’Hare’s tenth sister airport and becomes iGA Istanbul Airport’s ninth overall and first in the Americas. iGA Istanbul Airport also maintains sister airport agreements with Incheon International Airport in South Korea; Capital Airports Holding, Shanghai Airport Authority, and Sichuan Provincial Airport Group in China; Copenhagen Airport in Denmark; Airports of Thailand; and Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

According to ACI EUROPE’s "Airport Industry Connectivity Report 2025", iGA Istanbul Airport has surpassed Frankfurt to become the world’s number one in the Global Hub Connectivity Ranking. Moreover, for the second consecutive year, it was named Europe’s Most Connected Airport in terms of Direct Connectivity in both 2024 and 2025. As the main hub of Turkish Airlines, iGA Istanbul Airport offers nonstop flights to over 330 destinations 14 of which are in the United States—making it the airport with the widest destination network globally. Like O’Hare, iGA Istanbul Airport serves as a key connectivity hub for Star Alliance member airlines.

Commenting on the partnership, Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, stated:

“Our sister airport partnership with O’Hare International Airport is a strategic milestone in iGA Istanbul Airport’s mission to expand its global network and strengthen its presence in the North American market. Through this collaboration, we believe we will foster mutual benefits in passenger and cargo transport by enhancing knowledge and experience sharing between our airports. Over 5,000 Turkish citizens currently reside in Chicago, where more than 20 Turkish investors and 12 Turkish companies operate. Similarly, 8 Chicago-based companies are present in Türkiye. We are confident that this partnership will also deepen the commercial and cultural ties between our two cities.”

Michael J. McMurray, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, added:

“We are thrilled to welcome iGA Istanbul Airport as O’Hare’s newest sister airport. This partnership will strengthen ties between two of the world’s most important global gateways.”