AirAsia is taking another major step toward Europe after signing its first-ever codeshare agreement with Türkiye’s Pegasus Airlines. The partnership connects AirAsia’s Southeast Asian network with Pegasus’ extensive European network through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and is expected to progressively open access to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe.

The important detail for travelers is that the 100+ routes are not all available immediately. The cooperation launched on September 2, 2026, with five initial European destinations, while the wider network will be added progressively. AirAsia’s official announcement and Pegasus’ press release confirm the initial network and expansion plans.

AirAsia gets closer to Europe through Istanbul

AirAsia already operates a direct Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul service through its long-haul arm, AirAsia X. The route began in November 2025 with four weekly flights. Under the new partnership, the Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul service is planned to increase to seven flights per week by February 2027.

TravelFree previously covered the launch of the AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul nonstop route, and the route is now also being tracked in our live Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen–Kuala Lumpur flight deals.

The new codeshare effectively turns Istanbul into a bridge between the two airlines’ networks.

For passengers traveling from Southeast Asia, the concept is simple:

Asia → Kuala Lumpur → Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen → Europe

And the network works in the opposite direction too:

Europe → Istanbul → Kuala Lumpur → Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific

Pegasus says its network currently spans 161 destinations across 57 countries, while AirAsia says its network covers more than 140 destinations across Asia-Pacific.

Which European destinations are included first?

When the codeshare launched, five destinations were highlighted:

Destination Airport Connection
London, UK London Stansted (STN) Kuala Lumpur – Istanbul – London
Moscow, Russia Vnukovo (VKO) Kuala Lumpur – Istanbul – Moscow
Ankara, Türkiye Esenboğa (ESB) Kuala Lumpur – Istanbul – Ankara
Zurich, Switzerland Zurich (ZRH) Kuala Lumpur – Istanbul – Zurich
Athens, Greece Athens (ATH) Kuala Lumpur – Istanbul – Athens

These destinations are the starting point of the cooperation, with additional routes expected to be added over time.

That distinction is important: AirAsia has not suddenly launched 100 European destinations of its own. Instead, the airline is linking its Asian network to Pegasus’ European network through a codeshare arrangement.

TravelFree also regularly tracks Pegasus Airlines flight deals and cheap flights from Europe, which can be useful for travelers comparing alternative connections.

One booking and through-checked baggage

One of the biggest advantages of the partnership is that travelers can use a single booking for the connecting journey, rather than buying two completely separate tickets.

According to AirAsia, the codeshare allows customers to combine AirAsia and Pegasus flights under one itinerary and one booking reference. The airlines also say passengers can have their baggage checked through to the final destination.

This makes the partnership particularly interesting for travelers who previously had to create their own connections between low-cost airlines.

For example, a traveler flying from Kuala Lumpur to London could travel on AirAsia X to Istanbul and then continue on a Pegasus flight to London Stansted under the codeshare arrangement.

European travelers can also use the partnership to reach Asia

The deal is not just designed for people flying from Asia to Europe.

Travelers in Europe can connect through Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Kuala Lumpur and then continue with AirAsia’s network across destinations in Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia. AirAsia specifically highlights connections to markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.

This could create some interesting low-cost alternatives to traditional one-stop routes between Europe and Asia.

For example, a passenger from London could potentially travel:

London → Istanbul → Kuala Lumpur → Bali

TravelFree regularly publishes cheap Bali flight deals and maintains live Bali flight prices from European cities.

Or:

Athens → Istanbul → Kuala Lumpur → Bangkok

You can also follow TravelFree’s latest Thailand flight deals when comparing possible Asia connections.

The exact availability, schedules and fares will depend on the routes loaded into the codeshare system.

AirAsia Istanbul flights will become daily

The strength of the new partnership depends heavily on the Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul flight.

AirAsia currently operates the route four times per week, but plans to increase the frequency to seven flights per week by February 2027.

A daily schedule should make connections to Pegasus’ European network considerably more practical because travelers will have more flexibility when choosing their travel dates.

AirAsia X launched Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul in November 2025, with the service arriving at Sabiha Gökçen Airport, on Istanbul’s Asian side.

For travelers connecting at SAW, TravelFree has also covered the planned Istanbul airport rail connection between IST and SAW, an infrastructure project that could become increasingly useful as Istanbul handles more connecting traffic.

Launch fares from RM799

To promote the new codeshare, AirAsia announced special fares from RM799 one-way from Kuala Lumpur to the five initial destinations via Istanbul.

The promotional booking period runs from September 2 to September 6, 2026, for travel through March 27, 2027. AirAsia says the promotional fares include applicable charges and 20 kg of checked baggage.

The airline also lists promotional fares from Europe to Kuala Lumpur starting at US$199 one-way from Ankara, Moscow, Athens and Zurich, and from US$299 one-way from London Stansted, subject to the promotion’s terms and availability.

Because the booking window is limited, travelers interested in these fares should check the latest flight prices on TravelFree and verify availability directly before booking.

The promotional fares are also subject to the airlines’ terms and availability, so not every date will necessarily be offered at the advertised price.

What this means for travelers

The AirAsia–Pegasus agreement is significant because it combines two large low-cost networks without either airline needing to operate a huge number of new long-haul routes.

AirAsia gains access to Pegasus’ European network, while Pegasus passengers gain access to AirAsia’s extensive Asian network through Kuala Lumpur. Pegasus describes Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen as a natural connecting point between Europe and Asia.

For travelers, the biggest potential advantages are:

More low-cost connection options: Southeast Asia and Europe become easier to combine using two budget-focused airline networks.

Simpler transfers: The airlines say bookings can be made as a single itinerary with through-checked baggage.

More Asian destinations: European passengers can use Kuala Lumpur as an additional gateway into Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

More Istanbul connectivity: Increasing Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul flights to daily operation should improve the range of possible connections.

Is AirAsia actually flying to Europe?

Not in the traditional sense.

AirAsia is not launching a large fleet of nonstop flights from Southeast Asia to European cities. Instead, its European reach is being expanded through codesharing with Pegasus Airlines.

AirAsia X operates the long-haul Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul sector, while Pegasus operates the connecting flights from Istanbul to destinations across Europe and beyond.

So the more accurate description is that AirAsia is expanding its access to Europe via Istanbul, rather than launching dozens of new nonstop European routes.

What could come next?

Both airlines say the partnership is intended to expand beyond the initial five destinations.

AirAsia says the cooperation will progressively provide access to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe, while Pegasus says the two airlines plan to extend the partnership to additional destinations across both networks.

That means today’s five destinations could be only the beginning.

For budget travelers, the most interesting development will be seeing which Pegasus destinations are added next and how competitive the combined fares become compared with airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Emirates and other carriers serving the Europe–Asia market.

AirAsia–Pegasus codeshare: Key facts

Detail Information
Partnership launched September 2, 2026
AirAsia’s first codeshare? Yes
Main connection point Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
AirAsia long-haul route Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Istanbul (SAW)
Current frequency 4 flights per week
Planned frequency Daily by February 2027
Initial European destinations London, Moscow, Ankara, Zurich, Athens
Future network More than 100 Asia-Europe routes expected progressively
Single booking Yes, under the codeshare
Through-checked baggage Yes, according to the airlines

FAQ: AirAsia and Pegasus codeshare

When did the AirAsia–Pegasus codeshare start?

The partnership launched on September 2, 2026, and tickets became available immediately.

How many European routes are available?

The partnership launched with five highlighted European destinations, while the airlines say it will progressively expand to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe.

Does AirAsia fly directly from Kuala Lumpur to Europe?

AirAsia X flies directly from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. Pegasus then provides onward connections to European destinations under the codeshare.

Will AirAsia–Pegasus flights be on one ticket?

The airlines say the partnership allows passengers to travel on a single booking, with baggage checked through to the final destination.

When will AirAsia fly daily to Istanbul?

AirAsia plans to increase Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul frequency from four to seven flights per week by February 2027.

Where can I check the latest fares?

TravelFree’s Flight Deals Radar tracks live flight prices from European cities, including connections to Asia, while our Istanbul–Kuala Lumpur deal page tracks the AirAsia X route specifically.