AirAsia is enhancing its international reach by launching a pioneering codeshare agreement with Turkey’s leading low-cost airline, Pegasus Airlines. This collaboration creates seamless travel options linking Southeast Asia and Europe through Istanbul, marking a significant milestone in AirAsia’s quest to establish itself as a global low-cost carrier.
Broadening Travel Horizons Between Asia and Europe
This partnership merges the extensive networks of both airlines, allowing connections from AirAsia’s services across Southeast Asia and beyond to Pegasus’ expansive routes in Europe, all coordinated via the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport hub. With this initiative, AirAsia is striving to provide more affordable and accessible international travel options, solidifying Kuala Lumpur’s role as a pivotal gateway to the world.
As part of this new collaboration, travelers can now access over 100 routes connecting Asia to Europe through the combined efforts of both airlines, beginning with five key European destinations: Stansted (London), Vnukovo (Moscow), Esenboga (Ankara), Zurich (Switzerland), and Athens (Greece). This growth forms a robust foundation for expanding AirAsia’s reach into the European market, enhancing opportunities for both leisure and business travelers.
Increased Frequency and Enhanced Travel Experience
To further strengthen the connection between Asia and Europe, AirAsia plans to increase the frequency of its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul flights from four to seven times a week by February 2027. This growth will increase flexibility for travelers, allowing for more convenient connection times. Since launching the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul route in November 2025, this codeshare arrangement provides a streamlined travel experience, where passengers can book journeys seamlessly and have their baggage checked through to their final destination without needing to re-check it in Istanbul. This enhanced connectivity is poised to offer travelers a wealth of choices when exploring destinations across both continents.
Moreover, European travelers can also benefit from this partnership, gaining access to AirAsia’s extensive Fly-Thru network, which covers popular destinations in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, China, and Vietnam. The collaboration promises to enhance connectivity significantly, making sought-after Asian destinations more accessible for travelers coming from Europe.
Statements from Leadership
In a statement on the partnership, Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia Group, expressed that this initiative is a defining moment in the airline’s evolution from a prominent low-cost carrier in ASEAN to a global travel network. By connecting its vast Asian network with Pegasus’ European routes, spanning 160 destinations in 56 countries, they aim to make Europe more accessible while also welcoming European travelers to explore Southeast Asia. This partnership not only diversifies travel options but also strengthens the potential for further collaborations in the future.
Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, noted that Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport serves as a natural crossroads between Europe and Asia. The partnership represents a milestone for Pegasus, showcasing its growth over 20 years. Passengers can now benefit from seamless travel to Kuala Lumpur and beyond, reinforcing the commitment of both airlines to build a more integrated travel ecosystem.
To celebrate this partnership, AirAsia is offering promotional fares for flights from Kuala Lumpur to the designated European cities through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, starting at just RM799 for one-way tickets. This offer is available for bookings made from September 2 to September 6, 2026, with travel dates extending through to March 27, 2027, further enhancing the appeal of this groundbreaking codeshare initiative.