Hundreds of Passengers Abandoned Around Turkey Today As Istanbul, Antalya And Ankara Cancel 82 And Delay 184 Flights, Disrupting Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress, Emirates, Qatar Airways, And Others

Published on March 2, 2026

Image generated with Ai

Hundreds of passengers were grounded in Turkey(Türkiye) today as 166 flight cancellations and delays hit four major Turkish airports: Istanbul Airport (25 cancellations, 97 delays), Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (50 cancellations, 53 delays), Ankara Esenboğa Airport (5 cancellations, 16 delays), and Antalya Airport (2 cancellations, 18 delays).
The most affected airlines include Pegasus Airlines (47 cancellations, 47 delays), Turkish Airlines (9 cancellations, 78 delays), Emirates (5 cancellations), Flydubai (6 cancellations), Qatar Airways (6 cancellations), and SunExpress (2 cancellations, 6 delays). Other airlines reporting operational impact include Etihad Airways (1 cancellation), Gulf Air (2 cancellations), UTair (2 cancellations), AJet (10 delays), Azimuth Airlines (5 delays), Jet2.com (1 delay), and easyJet (1 delay).

Image generated with Ai

• Updated today: 184 delays and 82 cancellations recorded across four major Turkish airports.
• Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen reported the highest cancellations (50).
• Istanbul Airport recorded the highest delays (97).
• Pegasus Airlines accounted for 94 total disruptions (47 cancellations, 47 delays).
• Turkish Airlines recorded 87 total disruptions (9 cancellations, 78 delays).
• Antalya and Ankara saw significantly lower disruption levels compared to Istanbul.

Most Affected Airports

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen recorded 50 cancellations and 53 delays, making it the most cancellation-heavy airport today. Pegasus Airlines contributed the majority of the disruption at this hub.

Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport reported 97 delays and 25 cancellations, the highest delay count among all affected airports. Turkish Airlines accounted for a substantial share of delayed operations.

Ankara Esenboğa Airport

Ankara saw 5 cancellations and 16 delays, with operational impact largely concentrated among Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Antalya Airport

Antalya recorded 2 cancellations and 18 delays, with SunExpress responsible for all cancellations at this location.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus Airlines recorded 47 cancellations and 47 delays, making it the most operationally impacted carrier overall. The bulk of its cancellations occurred at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines reported 9 cancellations and 78 delays, with the highest concentration of delays at Istanbul Airport.

Flydubai

Flydubai recorded 6 cancellations, primarily concentrated in Istanbul operations, without reported delays.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways reported 6 cancellations across Istanbul airports and Ankara, with no recorded delays.

Emirates

Emirates saw 5 cancellations at Istanbul Airport, representing a full disruption of its scheduled operations there today.

SunExpress

SunExpress recorded 2 cancellations and 6 delays, primarily at Antalya Airport.

What Can Affected Travellers Do?

• Check live flight status directly with airlines before heading to Istanbul Airport or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. Schedules may change multiple times within a few hours during operational disruptions, so verify departure gates, terminal details, and boarding times shortly before leaving for the airport.
• Contact airline customer service immediately for rebooking options. If your flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, request alternative routing, standby placement, or transfer to the next available service as early as possible to secure limited seats.
• Monitor official airport communication channels in Ankara and Antalya. Airport websites and verified social media feeds may provide updates on terminal congestion, security wait times, and operational advisories.
• Keep digital boarding passes and booking confirmations accessible. Having confirmation numbers, ticket details, and identification ready can speed up assistance at airline counters and reduce processing time during peak disruption periods.
• Review airline compensation and re-accommodation policies. Check eligibility for meal vouchers, hotel stays, refund options, or compensation under applicable aviation passenger rights regulations.
• Arrive early at airports where delays are ongoing. Even if your flight shows as delayed rather than cancelled, extended queues at check-in, baggage drop, and security screening can increase overall travel time.

Learn More

Overview of Flight Cancellations and Delays

Flight disruptions in Turkey today were heavily concentrated in Istanbul, with both Istanbul Airport and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen accounting for the majority of Turkey’s operational impact. Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines experienced the largest number of total disruptions, while international carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Flydubai faced full or near-full cancellation impacts at select airports.
Operations in Ankara and Antalya remained comparatively stable, though SunExpress, AJet, and Azimuth Airlines reported measurable delays. The disruption footprint across Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya reflects concentrated strain at major hub airports, particularly affecting domestic and regional connectivity.
Across all four airports combined, today’s figures total 266 disrupted flights, underscoring significant operational challenges in Turkey’s aviation network.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware