Turkey tops in hot air ballooning: 5,863,176 people have flown so far

Turkey is the country with the largest commercial hot air ballooning operation in the world. There are 67 licensed balloon companies, 6 approved training organizations, 434 balloons, and 682 balloon pilots in Turkey. So far, 5,863,176 people have flown in balloons.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said that thanks to the efforts of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation for safe balloon flights, 310,301 balloon flights were carried out and 5,863,176 domestic and foreign passengers were flown from 2011 to May 1, 2024.

FLIGHTS CONDUCTED IN 7 DIFFERENT REGIONS

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made statements regarding hot air balloon companies operating in Turkey, their fleets, and hot air ballooning in Turkey. Minister stated that balloon flight operations are conducted in a total of 7 regions including Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Soğanlı, Çat, Ihlara, Afyonkarahisar, and Antalya.

Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that Turkey is the country conducting the world’s largest commercial hot air balloon operation both in terms of traffic volume and number of days flown, stating that the number of flights made in a day in Cappadocia can only be reached at festivals in other regions where flights are possible.

COMMERCIAL BALLOON PASSENGERS REACH RECORD LEVEL OF 750,000 IN 2022

Minister Uraloğlu also gave information that the number of commercial balloon passengers reached a record level in 2022, reaching around 750,000. “In 2023, 27,318 flights were made with 615,063 people flying in balloons. As of 2024, we see that 183,574 people have flown in balloons as of May 1. This number shows us that we can reach a record level even though the holiday season has not started.”

The Minister also mentioned that in the Cappadocia region, where the most balloon activities are carried out, the climate and wind structure allow flights for up to an average of 280 days a year.

He said, “From 2022 to this day, an average of 2,500 balloon flights have been made monthly in the Cappadocia region, serving an average of 50,000 passengers per month during this period. This means 600,000 people per year. This number is unique in the world. In European countries like Germany, England, France, and the Netherlands, flights can be made for a maximum of 60 days a year. The closest commercial flights to the number of flights in the Cappadocia region are made in Kenya. In Kenya, about 40-50 balloons fly daily, but a maximum of 120 days of flight can be made per year. The number of flyable days in Australia and Tanzania, where commercial balloon operations are intense, also varies between 100 and 120 days.”