In a significant expansion of its international reach, Malaysia’s AirAsia has officially launched its first-ever codeshare agreement with the Turkish budget carrier, Pegasus Airlines. This strategic move creates a seamless travel bridge between Southeast Asia and Europe, utilizing Istanbul as the primary gateway. Starting immediately, passengers can access five major European cities, including London, Moscow, Athens, Ankara, and Zurich, with plans to scale the network to over 100 routes in the near future. To accommodate this increased connectivity, AirAsia has confirmed it will boost its flight frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul to a daily service.

According to AirAsia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Amanda Woo, this collaboration is distinct from the airline’s broader strategy, as it specifically targets the European market through an established partner rather than relying solely on internal hubs. While this partnership takes center stage for now, the airline reiterated that its ambition to establish a hub in Bahrain by March 2027 remains a priority. Although initial plans for the Bahrain expansion were delayed due to ongoing regional instability, the airline continues to monitor the situation closely as it looks to strengthen its global footprint.