Nöbetçi Eczaneler
It was the early days of my aviation journalism career. Pegasus Airlines was just being born and I was just starting out as an aviation reporter. Back then, there weren’t many aviation journalists, and social media wasn’t active. There were probably no more than 20 aviation reporters in total. We could easily report on anything we wanted about airlines, positive or negative. If we noticed something wrong, we would raise it immediately. The environment was transparent, tolerant, and built on mutual respect and understanding.
Today, we are trying hard not to become what I call “press-release journalists.” Despite our efforts, the system has a way of pulling everyone in rather quickly.
Coming back to Pegasus, I am someone who witnessed the airline’s most critical early years. I was present at route launches to Sarajevo, Bishkek, Dubai, and Barcelona. I was there on the very first day when Pegasus named its aircraft after young girls. I was also the only journalist who conducted a one-on-one interview with Ali Sabancı, at his request, on the day Sertaç Haybat was CEO and speaking to the press.
Many years have passed since then. Pegasus’ steady growth has led it exactly to where it stands today. Even back then, it was clear where this journey would lead, because the company was built on very solid foundations. Growing around a single, well-defined low-cost business model made success inevitable. The system was strong and it kept working flawlessly.
How Did Pegasus Perform in 2025?
For Pegasus, 2025 became the year when the tangible results of its post-pandemic “fast-run” strategy truly materialized. The airline didn’t just grow financially; it closed the year by taking decisive steps toward becoming a global airline group.
As one of Türkiye’s rising aviation brands, Pegasus delivered strong and balanced growth in 2025. Between January and November, it carried nearly 40 million passengers, representing a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. Passenger numbers grew by 1.7 million in the third quarter alone, and by 5.3 million year-to-date. Despite capacity growth, Pegasus maintained a high load factor of 87.7%, clearly reflecting the success of its efficiency-driven business model.
International growth was largely driven by Europe-focused routes. Germany ranked first with 3.2 million passengers, followed by the UK (1.2 million) and Italy (0.7 million). Outside Europe, Russia stood out with 0.9 million passengers. On a route basis, London, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Vienna were among the busiest destinations, while Tbilisi and Moscow stood out beyond Europe.
Domestically, Pegasus continued its steady growth trend throughout 2025. Strong demand between major cities, especially Istanbul, supported the airline’s solid domestic network structure. Today, Pegasus flies to 39 domestic destinations, maintaining its strong position with 10.4% growth in domestic traffic as of November.
One of the Youngest Fleets in the World
With an average fleet age of just 4.9 years, Pegasus operates one of the youngest fleets globally. The dominance of next-generation aircraft has significantly strengthened on-time performance and operational continuity.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence investments placed at the core of operations enabled more agile, predictive, and efficient processes, from flight planning to maintenance. This allowed Pegasus to manage increased operational volume smoothly while minimizing disruptions. On the passenger experience side, AI-driven personalization, multilingual captain announcements, and improved digital touchpoints further enhanced customer satisfaction.
Acquiring One of Europe’s Oldest Airlines
In 2025, Pegasus made two major strategic moves that will shape its future trajectory. The first was the acquisition of Smartwings and Czech Airlines. This Czech-based group acquisition stands as the most concrete demonstration of Pegasus’ international growth ambition. It strengthens Pegasus’ European footprint and enables the group to offer a broader network through two distinct brands.
Hangar Investment
The second move was the launch of a new hangar investment, with the first phase expected to become operational next month. This $150 million investment is a strategic step toward increasing operational efficiency and reducing external dependency, providing long-term cost advantages.
Opening the Door to the U.S. via Spain
Pegasus also expanded its network through a codeshare partnership with Spanish flag carrier Iberia Airlines. Thanks to this agreement, Pegasus passengers now have much easier access to Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
A New-Generation Digital Airline Ecosystem
Through the Pegasus Innovation Lab in Silicon Valley, the airline continues embedding AI and data analytics at the heart of its business model, one of the most important steps toward becoming a true “next-generation digital airline ecosystem.”
In Summary
2025 went down as a transformation year for Pegasus, one in which the airline successfully completed its fast-growth phase, combined operational excellence with technology, and reinforced its position in the global league through inorganic growth strategies.