AirAsia launches first codeshare partnership with Turkish budget carrier Pegasus Airlines

AirAsia has launched its first codeshare partnership with Turkey-based budget carrier Pegasus Airlines for connections between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul.

Through Pegasus Airlines’ hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, AirAsia customers can connect onto five initial destinations in Europe: London Stansted, Vnukovo, Esenbogo, Zurich, and Athens. AirAsia stated the partnership will be progressively expanded to cover more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe.

Travelers from Europe can connect through Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur to access AirAsia’s network of destinations across Asia and Australia including cities in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

To strengthen the Asia-Europe connections, AirAsia will increase its flights of its long-haul arm AirAsia X between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen from four-times weekly to seven-times weekly by February 2027.

AirAsia Group GEO Bo Lingam said: “By connecting our extensive network across Asia with Pegasus’ strong European network from Istanbul, spanning 160 destinations across 56 countries, we are making Europe more accessible to our guests while creating a gateway for European travellers to discover Asean and beyond. This partnership gives travellers more choices, connectivity and opportunities to explore the world at affordable fares, while laying the foundation for even greater connectivity through strategic partnerships in the future.”

Güliz Öztürk, Pegasus Airlines CEO added: "Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen is a natural connecting point between Europe and Asia. That AirAsia's first-ever codeshare is with Pegasus Airlines is a source of pride: it reflects the network we have built from Istanbul over two decades, and a hub that continues to grow. Our guests can now reach Kuala Lumpur seamlessly and, from there, AirAsia's network of more than 140 destinations across Asia-Pacific, while travellers from Southeast Asia and beyond gain a gateway into Türkiye and Europe. We will build on this together, developing a more integrated travel ecosystem across both networks and opening up more destinations, simpler journeys and affordable fares for our guests."

Founded in 1991 as a charter airline, Pegasus Airlines became a budget airlin e in 2005. With a fleet of over 130 aircraft, Pegasus’ network covered 158 destinations in 55 countries by the end of 2025.