Passenger number record broken in hot air balloon flights

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the all-time balloon passenger number record was broken last year with 933 thousand local and foreign passengers.

In his written statement, Minister Uraloğlu shared hot air balloon statistics for 2024.

Stating that thanks to the safe flight training provided by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM), Turkey has reached the top ranks in the world in terms of traffic volume and number of days flown in hot air balloon tourism, Uraloğlu stated that last year was quite productive in terms of hot air balloon tourism.

Uraloğlu made the following assessment regarding the flights in 2024: "A total of 43 thousand balloon flights were carried out in 8 regions, including Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Soğanlı, Çat, Ihlara, Şanlıurfa Göbeklitepe, Afyonkarahisar and Antalya. In these flights, an all-time balloon passenger number record was broken with 933 thousand domestic and foreign passengers. The number of balloon passengers increased by 25 percent compared to 2023."

More than 80 percent of the flights are from Cappadocia

Uraloğlu, who gave the information that there are 71 hot air balloon companies authorized by SHGM in Turkey, conveyed that trainings for the sector are provided through 6 approved institutions.

Uraloğlu, drawing attention to the fact that more than 80 percent of the flights are in the Cappadocia region, noted the following:

"The hot air balloon business, Turkey's rising tourism star, continues to grow every year. As the Ministry, we have provided all kinds of support in this area. Since 2011, 5 million 617 thousand local and foreign balloon passengers have had the opportunity to watch Turkey's unique nature in 290 thousand flights throughout Turkey."