AirAsia launches first codeshare with Turkey's Pegasus Airlines

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia's AirAsia has entered into its first codeshare partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, opening up connections between Southeast Asia and Europe via Istanbul, the airline said ‌on Wednesday.

The ⁠partnership, ⁠which starts on Wednesday, initially covers five European destinations - London, ​Moscow, Athens, Ankara and Zurich - and will progressively open access to ​more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe via the combined network, AirAsia said in a statement.

AirAsia ​chief commercial officer Amanda Woo ⁠told reporters that ‌the codeshare, which connects AirAsia's ​ASEAN network ​with Pegasus' European network via Istanbul, represents ⁠a different approach from its planned hub in ​Bahrain, AirAsia's first hub outside Asia.


"This partnership with ​Pegasus is a totally different market, different approach, targeting the European part of the business," Woo said at a press conference.

The biggest low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia said it would increase its ‌Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul frequency to daily flights to support the partnership.

Woo said AirAsia's plan ​to launch ​Bahrain services ⁠remains on track for March 2027, subject to the geopolitical situation.

The carrier initially planned to commence the Bahrain ​hub in June, linking Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain and onward to London's Gatwick airport, but postponed the launch due to the conflict in the Middle East.