AirAsia, Pegasus launch first codeshare as Istanbul link expands

Dhaka: AirAsia has entered into its first codeshare agreement, partnering with Türkiye’s Pegasus Airlines to expand travel options between Southeast Asia and Europe through Istanbul.

The agreement connects AirAsia’s network across Asia with Pegasus’ European destinations via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The partnership will initially provide access to five European cities — London, Moscow, Ankara, Zurich and Athens — with plans to eventually cover more than 100 Asia-Europe routes.

As part of the expansion, AirAsia X will increase its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul service from four to seven flights a week by February 2027. The route has linked the two cities directly since November 2025.

Under the codeshare arrangement, passengers will be able to book connecting journeys on a single reservation and have their baggage checked through to their final destination, eliminating the need to collect and recheck luggage during transit in Istanbul.

The partnership will also allow European travelers to connect through Kuala Lumpur to AirAsia’s wider network across Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia.

AirAsia Group CEO Bo Lingam said the agreement marks a major step in the airline’s evolution toward becoming a global low-cost network carrier.

Pegasus CEO Güliz Öztürk said Istanbul’s location makes it a natural bridge between Europe and Asia.