If Europe has been sitting on your travel bucket list, there’s some exciting news for Malaysian travellers.

AirAsia has taken another big step in expanding its international connectivity with the launch of its first-ever codeshare partnership, teaming up with Pegasus Airlines, Türkiye’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC).

And what does that mean for us travellers? More ways to get from Kuala Lumpur to Europe via Istanbul — with one booking and greater convenience.

Kuala Lumpur to Europe via Istanbul

The partnership connects AirAsia’s extensive network across ASEAN and Asia with Pegasus Airlines’ European network through its hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

The initial launch will connect Kuala Lumpur travellers via Istanbul to five European destinations:

🇬🇧 London Stansted
🇷🇺 Moscow Vnukovo
🇹🇷 Ankara Esenboğa
🇨🇭 Zurich
🇬🇷 Athens

And this is only the beginning.

The partnership is expected to progressively open access to more than 100 routes between Asia and Europe, bringing even more destinations within reach.

The best part? Less travel hassle!

One thing that really caught my attention is the convenience of the codeshare arrangement.

Guests can travel on a single booking, with their baggage checked through to their final destination.

That means during the connection in Istanbul, there’s no need to check in again or collect and re-check your bags.

Because honestly, when you’re travelling long-haul, anything that makes the journey simpler is a BIG win!

More flights between KL and Istanbul

To further strengthen the Asia-Europe connection, AirAsia will also increase its Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (KUL–SAW) frequency from four to seven times weekly by February 2027.

That gives travellers more flexibility when planning their European holiday, while making Istanbul an even more important gateway between Southeast Asia and Europe.

The Kuala Lumpur–Istanbul route has already provided a direct link between Southeast Asia and Istanbul since November 2025, and this new codeshare partnership takes that connectivity a step further.

Europe to ASEAN? Yes!

It’s not just about getting Malaysians to Europe either.

The connectivity works both ways.

Travellers from Europe can fly via Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur and then connect onwards through AirAsia’s extensive network across ASEAN, Asia and Australia.

Think destinations across Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and more. 🌏

So Kuala Lumpur becomes an even more useful gateway for European travellers wanting to explore Southeast Asia and beyond.

And then there’s the promo… 👀

Now for the part that will probably get everyone’s attention!

To celebrate the new collaboration with Pegasus Airlines, AirAsia is offering a limited-time promotional fare from just RM799 one-way, all-in, from Kuala Lumpur to the five European destinations via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen.

📅 Booking period: 2–6 September 2026
✈️ Travel period: Now until 27 March 2027

For travellers flying from Europe to Kuala Lumpur, promotional fares start from:

🇹🇷 Ankara — from USD199 one-way
🇷🇺 Moscow — from USD199 one-way
🇬🇷 Athens — from USD199 one-way
🇨🇭 Zurich — from USD199 one-way
🇬🇧 London Stansted — from USD299 one-way

The fares include passenger service charges, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, applicable fees and 20kg checked baggage allowance. Terms and conditions apply.

So yes… Europe suddenly feels a little more tempting! 😜

A new chapter for AirAsia

This first-ever codeshare partnership also marks another milestone in AirAsia’s ambition to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier.

By bringing together AirAsia’s strong Asian network and Pegasus Airlines’ European network from Istanbul, the partnership aims to make international travel more accessible while giving travellers more choices and connectivity.

And with Pegasus Airlines’ network spanning 160 destinations across 56 countries, while AirAsia connects more than 140 destinations across Asia-Pacific, there is plenty of potential for this partnership to grow.

For someone who loves travelling and discovering new destinations, I’m definitely keeping an eye on where this partnership goes next.

London, Athens, Zurich or perhaps an Istanbul stopover before exploring Europe? 🇬🇧🇬🇷🇨🇭🇹🇷

Either way, it looks like getting from Kuala Lumpur to Europe is about to become a whole lot more interesting.

Now… who wants to plan a Europe trip with me? 😂✈️

Promo fares are subject to availability and terms and conditions. Flights are operated via the codeshare partnership with Pegasus Airlines. Fares quoted are based on the promotional information provided by AirAsia.