AirAsia has launched its first-ever codeshare partnership, teaming up with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines to connect their networks across Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul.
The agreement, announced on September 2, 2026, links AirAsia’s extensive network across ASEAN and Asia with Pegasus’ European reach through its hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), opening the door to what the airlines say will eventually be more than 100 new routes between the two regions.
Five European destinations from launch
The codeshare begins with five European destinations accessible from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) via Istanbul:
- London Stansted Airport (STN)
- Moscow Vnukovo International Airport (VKO)
- Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
- Zurich Airport (ZRH)
- Athens International Airport (ATH)
Passengers booking these routes will be able to 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.
CEOs frame codeshare as a bridge between two low-cost giants
Bo Lingum, CEO of AirAsia Group, called the partnership a significant milestone in the airline’s 25th anniversary year and described it as a new chapter in AirAsia’s evolution from a regional low-cost leader into what he called “a truly global travel network.”
He said connecting AirAsia’s Asian network with Pegasus’ coverage of 160 destinations across 56 countries makes Europe more accessible for AirAsia’s passengers while simultaneously creating a gateway for European travelers to explore ASEAN and other regions.
“This collaboration offers choices, connections, and opportunities to explore the world at affordable prices,” he said.
Pegasus Airlines CEO Gulis Ozturk said the partnership reflects the strength of the network Pegasus has built from Istanbul over the past two decades, calling Sabiha Gokcen Airport “a natural link between Europe and Asia.”
She noted that Pegasus passengers can now travel seamlessly to Kuala Lumpur and connect onward to more than 140 destinations across Asia Pacific via AirAsia’s network, while travelers from Southeast Asia gain access to Turkey and wider Europe through Pegasus.
European travelers gain access to 140+ Asia Pacific destinations, and vice versa
The partnership is designed to work in both directions. Travelers from Europe can fly through Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur and connect onward through AirAsia’s Fly-Thru network to destinations across ASEAN, Asia, and Australia, including popular markets in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.
The daily Istanbul frequency, once in place, is intended to strengthen that link further.
For AirAsia, the codeshare also reinforces Kuala Lumpur’s position as a key connecting hub between Asia and the rest of the world, a core part of the airline’s stated ambition to become the world’s first global low-cost network carrier.
Introductory fares
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 starting from US$299.
The promotion runs from September 2-6, 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.