Partnership With Pegasus Airlines Creates New Low-Cost Travel Corridor Through Istanbul
ISTANBUL — AirAsia and Pegasus Airlines have launched a landmark codeshare partnership that will connect Southeast Asia with Europe through Istanbul, marking the first such agreement in AirAsia’s history and strengthening both carriers’ international networks.
The arrangement brings together AirAsia’s extensive Asia-Pacific operations and Pegasus Airlines’ network across Europe and Türkiye. Passengers will initially be able to book connecting journeys to five destinations—London Stansted, Moscow Vnukovo, Ankara Esenboğa, Zurich and Athens—through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The airlines plan to expand the agreement progressively, eventually offering more than 100 route combinations between Asia and Europe. The partnership represents a significant step in AirAsia’s effort to establish a broader global low-cost network while giving Pegasus customers easier access to Southeast Asia.
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Becomes Key Connecting Hub
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen will serve as the principal interchange point for passengers traveling between the two airlines’ networks. Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, the airport is Pegasus Airlines’ primary operating hub and an important gateway for regional and international travel.
Under the codeshare arrangement, travelers can reserve connecting flights under a single booking. The structure is intended to simplify journeys between Southeast Asia and Europe by reducing the administrative steps typically associated with separately booked flights.
Passengers will also be able to check their baggage through to their final destination. Travelers transferring at Istanbul will not need to collect and recheck their luggage or complete another check-in before boarding their onward service, according to the airline.
The initial destinations provide AirAsia customers with access to major markets in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Greece, Russia and Türkiye. Pegasus passengers, meanwhile, will gain a direct connection to Kuala Lumpur and onward access to AirAsia’s network across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
AirAsia X Plans Daily Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul Service
The partnership will be supported by additional capacity between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul. AirAsia X currently operates four flights a week on the route and plans to increase service to seven weekly flights by February 2027.
AirAsia X launched its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul service in November 2025, establishing a nonstop connection between Malaysia and Türkiye. Raising the schedule to daily service is expected to give passengers more flexibility when arranging onward connections through the Pegasus network.
The increased frequency will also strengthen Kuala Lumpur’s position as an international gateway for AirAsia. Travelers arriving from Europe will be able to connect through the Malaysian capital to destinations throughout Southeast Asia, including major tourism and business markets.
For AirAsia, the agreement extends its reach without requiring the carrier to operate its own aircraft to each European destination. Pegasus similarly gains access to a much larger Asian network through AirAsia’s established regional operations.
Combined Networks Cover Hundreds of Destinations
Pegasus Airlines operates scheduled services to 160 destinations across 56 countries, providing AirAsia customers with a substantial range of potential onward connections from Istanbul. The Turkish low-cost carrier has built a strong presence across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa.
AirAsia offers connections to more than 140 destinations across the Asia-Pacific region. Its network gives European travelers access to cities and leisure destinations throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and other regional markets.
The partnership reflects a broader trend among low-cost airlines seeking to offer long-distance connectivity through commercial cooperation. Codeshare agreements allow carriers to sell seats on one another’s flights while providing customers with a more coordinated booking and transfer process.
More Asia-Europe Routes Expected
The five initial destinations represent the first stage of the partnership. AirAsia and Pegasus expect to add further cities progressively as they integrate their networks and expand the number of available itineraries.
Once fully developed, the agreement could support more than 100 Asia-Europe route combinations through Istanbul. That expansion would provide additional competition in a market traditionally dominated by full-service carriers operating through major hubs in the Middle East and Europe.
With daily Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul flights planned for early 2027 and both airlines offering large regional networks, the codeshare positions Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen as an increasingly important connecting point for cost-conscious travelers moving between Asia and Europe.
