AirAsia Group announced its first-ever codeshare partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines on September 2, 2026, linking AirAsia's extensive network across ASEAN and Asia with Pegasus' European reach via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW).
The codeshare initially opens five European destinations accessible from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) via Istanbul, including Moscow Vnukovo (VKO) and Athens (ATH). Passengers can travel on a single ticket with through-checked baggage, eliminating the need to reclaim and recheck luggage during the Istanbul stopover.
To support the expanded connectivity, AirAsia will increase the frequency of its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul route from four to seven flights per week by February 2027, making it a daily service. AirAsia X first launched direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul in November 2025.
AirAsia Group CEO Bo Lingum called the partnership a significant milestone in the airline's 25th anniversary year, describing it as a new chapter in AirAsia's evolution into a truly global travel network. Pegasus Airlines CEO Gulis Ozturk said the collaboration reflects the strength of Pegasus' network built from Istanbul over two decades, calling Sabiha Gökçen Airport a natural link between Europe and Asia.
To mark the launch, AirAsia is offering promotional one-way fares from Kuala Lumpur to the five European destinations via Istanbul starting from MYR 799 (US$180). Fares from Europe to Kuala Lumpur start from US$199 one-way, with London Stansted fares from US$299. The promotion runs from September 2 to 6, 2026, for travel through March 27, 2027, and includes departure fees, fuel surcharges, and a 20 kg checked baggage allowance. Bookings can be made through the AirAsia MOVE platform.
