Record-breaking Number of Hot Air Balloon Passengers in Kapadokya
In the past year, 933,195 tourists benefited from hot air balloon flights in various regions of Turkey, including Nevşehir-Kapadokya, Denizli-Pamukkale, Kayseri-Soğanlı, Nevşehir-Çat, Antalya-Aspendos, Aksaray-Ihlara and Afyonkarahisar-Frig. This number marks an unprecedented record in the history of ballooning in Turkey.
Significant Growth in Flights and Passenger Numbers
According to information gathered from the 2024 Performance Report of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey , balloon flights are operated in 7 regions of the country, and currently, 71 companies are active with 441 balloons.
In these regions, a total of 43,283 balloon flights were conducted last year. This number represents a 25% increase compared to the previous year and resulted in a new record in passenger count. In 2023, 431 balloons served 747,203 tourists.
Evaluating New Requests for Emerging Regions
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation is also evaluating requests to organize flights in new regions.
To ensure the safety of flights, the authority has conducted inspections in seven regions. In this context, in 2024, without prior notice, 348 balloon pilots were tested for alcohol and psychoactive substance use.
In addition, 27 pre-flight inspections and 585 control flights were carried out to ensure flight safety.
Balloon Exports and Expansion of Domestic Production
Alongside these achievements, Turkey has gained full capability in issuing certifications for aircraft and now carries out certification processes domestically. In this regard, the training aircraft HÜRKUŞ received certification, and the first domestically designed hot air balloon was also granted a type certificate.
Balloon exports to countries such as Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Qatar, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Jordan reflect the growth of Turkey’s domestic aviation industry.
Additionally, efforts are ongoing to certify the helicopter Gökbey as well as other domestically produced aircraft and components.
Increase in the Number of Pilots and Technical Staff
The number of technical balloon staff in Turkey increased by 8.5% compared to the previous year, rising from 654 to 710. By the end of last year, 387 certified balloon pilots were actively providing services.
