AirAsia launches first codeshare with Turkey's Pegasus Airlines

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — AirAsia has launched its inaugural codeshare partnership with Turkey's low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, linking Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul. This collaboration will progressively provide access to 160 destinations across 56 countries via the combined networks of AirAsia and Pegasus. The partnership began with five European destinations: Stansted (London), Vnukovo (Moscow), Esenboga (Ankara), Zurich (Switzerland), and Athens (Greece).

Amanda Woo, AirAsia Group Bhd chief commercial officer, revealed that connecting flights from Kuala Lumpur through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport are anticipated to be offered to Munich, Prague, Madrid, Vienna, Barcelona, Manchester, and Edinburgh in the coming year. The alliance unites two leading low-cost carriers from ASEAN and Europe, connecting AirAsia's expansive network across ASEAN and Asia with Pegasus' extensive European network via its Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen hub.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, owned and operated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, connects over 117 international and 40 domestic destinations. This partnership marks another milestone in AirAsia's mission to become the world's first low-cost network carrier by making international travel more accessible and affordable while strengthening Kuala Lumpur's role as a key gateway between Asia and the world.

To further enhance the Asia-Europe connection, AirAsia plans to increase its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul flights from four times to seven times weekly by February 2027, offering travelers greater flexibility and more convenient connectivity between the two regions. AirAsia will utilize A330 aircraft for this partnership.