In a report that has sparked global discussion, Istanbul Airport has been dubbed the “world’s most expensive airport” by travellers shocked at the sky-high food and drink prices. The revelation, first reported by the Mirror, highlights how basic items like bananas and fast food meals are being sold at eye-watering rates.
According to passengers and media reports, a single banana at Istanbul Airport can cost £5 (around Rs 565), while a pint of beer goes for £15 (Rs 1,697). Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera labelled it the most expensive airport in Europe for food and drinks, citing an Italian traveller who paid £21 (Rs 2,376) for a 90-gram portion of lasagna. “It looked more like a piece of brick with grated cheese and a pseudo-basil leaf,” the writer complained, adding that the quality was nowhere near the exorbitant price.
Despite being home to over 220,000 passengers daily, Istanbul Airport’s steep pricing has made the travel experience less appealing for many. Even popular fast food chains like McDonald’s and Burger King reportedly sell their standard items at inflated rates compared to other major airports.
The issue has gained traction on forums like Reddit, where one user compared the prices at Istanbul Airport to Frankfurt, noting that they were “two to four times higher.” Others echoed the sentiment, with one traveller stating, “They know people will pay.”
A traveller also pointed out that prices in some US airports were far more reasonable, suggesting the disparity isn’t just about location but pricing strategy. “LaGuardia and Orlando MCO were quite reasonable on prices,” said the user.
While Istanbul Airport is architecturally stunning and praised for its infrastructure, passengers have called for greater price regulation to ensure that the travel experience doesn’t come at such a steep cost—especially for basic food and beverage items.