AirAsia to launch first codeshare with Türkiye's Pegasus Airlines?
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Group Bhd is set to launch its first-ever codeshare partnership with Türkiye’s low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines next month.
AirAsia Group is poised to initiate its inaugural codeshare agreement with Türkiye's low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, in the coming month, according to reports from Business Times. This collaboration could potentially cover up to five routes operated by Pegasus through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, including flights to London Stansted, Moscow, Athens, Ankara, and Zurich. Business Times suggests these codeshare flights may commence in September 2026.
Analysts speculate that AirAsia Group, via AirAsia X's D7 flights, might also aim to augment the frequency of its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul service, currently operating four times weekly. Pegasus Airlines benefits from this partnership by gaining access to Asian traffic, while AirAsia X will leverage traffic from Europe, sourced through Pegasus Airlines.
The partnership is seen as mutually beneficial and strategically advantageous. Sabiha Gökçen, owned and operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, is a major hub with over 117 international and 40 domestic connections. AirAsia X commenced its Kuala Lumpur-SAW service on November 14, 2025, using an Airbus A330-300, marking its long-awaited entry into Europe and establishing a vital link between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul.
Pegasus Airlines, Türkiye's leading budget carrier with its hub at Sabiha Gökçen, currently operates a fleet of 129 aircraft, including Boeing B737-800s and Airbus A320 Family and A321s. The carrier serves 160 destinations across 56 countries.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
