2 Oct 2026, Manila — Europe is getting closer for Filipino travelers as AirAsia Philippines expands opportunities for guests to travel beyond Asia, connecting the Philippines to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur and opening access to more destinations across Europe.
Through AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur network, Filipino travelers can now fly from the Philippines to Kuala Lumpur and onward to Istanbul, creating a more seamless travel option for those looking to explore Türkiye and other European destinations.
The connectivity is supported by AirAsia’s codeshare partnership with Pegasus Airlines, Türkiye’s largest low-cost carrier (LCC), which allows guests connecting through Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul to continue their journey to a growing network of destinations in Europe.
“For many Filipinos traveling abroad is a lifelong goal. And Europe remains the quintessential dream destination. We recognize that high costs and complex visa processes can make European travel feel intimidating. As AirAsia Group expands its vision beyond ASEAN, our commitment remains the same – removing barriers and bringing these dream destinations closer to guests with our Fly-Thru service and partnership with Pegasus.” AirAsia Philippines President and CEO Anna Lu Victoria shares.
From Istanbul, Filipino travelers can access destinations including London, Moscow, Ankara, Zurich, and Athens, among others, giving them more options to fly to Europe from Southeast Asia.
For Filipinos, this opens up more possibilities to turn long-awaited European trips into reality, whether it is exploring historic cities, experiencing different cultures, or finally ticking Europe off their travel bucket list.
AirAsia currently operates flights from Manila to Kuala Lumpur 12 times weekly, while Cebu to Kuala Lumpur operates 3 times weekly, giving more Filipino travelers access to AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur hub and its growing international network.
Making the journey even more convenient, AirAsia will increase its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul (KUL-SAW) service from four times to seven times weekly by February 2027, giving travelers greater flexibility and more options when planning their European adventures.
The expanded connectivity reinforces AirAsia Philippines’ commitment to making international travel more accessible and affordable for Filipinos, while giving guests more opportunities to travel beyond Asia.
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About AirAsia Philippines
AirAsia is a leading low-cost carrier with licenses to operate in five Asean countries – Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. Founded in 2001, AirAsia has stayed true to its purpose and tagline “Now Everyone Can Fly”. The airline has made flying affordable and accessible to over 900 million guests, connecting people and communities across more than 150 destinations. Today, as one of the largest airlines in the region, AirAsia is expanding to become the world’s first global low-cost network carrier. It operates more than 250 aircraft and holds a significant orderbook for the next decade. AirAsia leads in sustainable aviation with green initiatives and a net zero target by 2050. In 2025, it avoided 135,788 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2025 through 19 fuel efficiency initiatives, achieving US$30,939,120 in fuel savings and over US$2,715,767 in shadow carbon cost reductions.
