Pegasus Airlines launches Dortmund-Istanbul route

From 19 December, Pegasus Airlines is launching a new route between Dortmund and Istanbul operating three times a week. Flights will depart from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) at 07:20 Tuesdays and Thursdays and 06:45 on Sundays and from Dortmund Airport (DTM) at 11:35 on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 11:20 on Sundays. Tickets for the new route can be booked from 49,99 Euros. Pegasus serves more than 130 destinations in 50 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe from its SAW hub. 

Ludger van Bebber, CEO Dortmund Airport, said: “The newly established connection to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul represents a significant achievement for Dortmund Airport and our passengers. Beyond experiencing the captivating metropolis of Istanbul, travellers now have access to a variety of thrilling destinations via the Pegasus route network from SAW.  We are delighted to welcome Pegasus as our new partner, sharing our commitment to sustainable growth. Together, we aim to offer passengers affordable flights to a broad range of destinations.”

Pegasus Airlines launches thrice-weekly flights between Dortmund Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport 

To check fares and availability visit here.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE, Qatar's Doha, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, Beirut in Lebanon, Karachi, Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia, Baku, Yerevan, Baghdad, Erbil and Basra, Tehran and Tabriz in Iran, Medina and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Almaty, Astana and Shymkent in Kazakhstan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Amman Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait are among the destinations served by Pegasus from its SAW hub. In addition to its extensive international flight network, Pegasus connects guests to Türkiye’s top summer destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Izmir.

 

Pegasus Airlines is establishing Silicon Valley-based Technology Innovation Lab

Pegasus Airlines has taken the first steps in establishing a Technology Innovation Lab operating in Silicon Valley in the USA.

Having launched its digital transformation program in 2018 under the motto Your Digital Airline, Pegasus Airlines is taking a significant leap in the technology arena to secure the sustainable development of its digitalisation journey. Following the decision to establish a Technology Innovation Lab in Silicon Valley, in the USA, Pegasus Airlines has begun working on the project. Through establishing a lab in Silicon Valley, the airline aims to monitor and assess on site the latest technological advancements worldwide. This move will further strengthen the company's global competitiveness and fortify its firm commitment to technological innovation.

 

In a statement, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: "Our investments in technology stand out as one of the key elements that set us apart. Since launching our digital transformation in 2018, we have been making significant investments. In line with our vision to become ‘Your Digital Airline’, we launch many initiatives to make the travel experience of our guests and the work experience for our employees easier, faster, and more efficient. And now, we are getting ready to take an exciting new step to further the sustainable development of this digitalisation journey.” Öztürk continued: “We've made the decision to establish a Technology Innovation Lab, operating right in the heart of Silicon Valley. This lab will enable us to monitor and assess on site the latest technological advancements worldwide. We will continue to enhance and add value to our processes and our guests’ experiences by experimenting with different technologies. This big move will further increase our company's global competitiveness.”

 

Barış Fındık, Chief Information Officer at Pegasus Airlines, emphasised Pegasus' commitment to providing the best digital experience for its guests and achieving the most efficient operational management in the aviation sector: "At Pegasus, we are determined to become one of the world’s most technologically advanced airlines. In pursuit of this, we are taking significant strides to evaluate collaboration opportunities with start-ups, universities, and other players in the field of technology and aviation. By keeping pace with the latest technological advancements in Silicon Valley, we aim to reinforce our goal of being influential not only within a local, but also a global, framework.  Our focus will be on artificial intelligence, mobile capabilities, self-service, and other cutting-edge technologies that we believe will directly enhance our business." 

Pegasus Airlines selects SkyBreathe® 360° eco-flying platform to increase fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions

Pegasus, Turkey's leading low-cost airline, has taken a significant step towards further enhancing its operational efficiency and environmental action by adopting SkyBreathe® 360° eco-flying platform to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions from its flights.

 

With this agreement, the airline will be able to monitor flight data, analyze various fuel-efficient procedures to implement, and identify areas of improvement. By leveraging this data-driven approach, Pegasus Airlines aims to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption, leading to both financial savings and a notable decrease in its carbon footprint.

 

The SkyBreathe® 360° eco-flying platform, developed by OpenAirlines, utilizes sophisticated Big Data algorithms, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to analyze numerous data from each flight and provide actionable insights, allowing airlines to enhance fuel efficiency strategies and reduce their consumption. The platform is designed to scale with the airline throughout its fuel efficiency journey, increasing collaboration and shared responsibility and promoting a green culture to deliver superior fuel savings.

 

Pegasus Airlines has also chosen to use SkyBreathe® MyFuelCoach to further support its pilots in this initiative. The mobile application will be used to empower pilots with data they can trust to make more informed flight decisions. It is designed to be a user-friendly, intuitive interface where they can easily track their performance and self-discover areas to optimize operations and efficiency.

 

Maintaining a healthy fleet is essential in optimizing operations and flight efficiency. In line with this principle, with a fleet now reaching 105 aircraft, Pegasus Airlines has also decided to adopt SkyBreathe® APM. Consequently, maintenance teams will be able to continuously monitor aircraft performance with an up-to-date view of the entire fleet’s health, receive notifications about unusual deterioration, identify root causes, and take corrective action.

 

Pegasus Airlines is launching a three-times-a-week route between Birmingham Airport and Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines is to start flying three times a week between Birmingham Airport and Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport with one-way fares from Birmingham Airport starting at £39.99. 

From December 21 Pegasus will offer the flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Pegasus serves more than 130 destinations in 49 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe from its SAW hub. 

Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Pegasus Airlines into the BHX fold. Pegasus is a very impressive low-cost carrier whose commitment to sustainable long-term growth is matched by our own here at Birmingham. 

“I have no doubt these new services to SAW will be very popular with sunseekers, pilgrims, business travellers and people going to see family both in Türkiye and across the vast array of destinations offered by Pegasus’s strong onwards network covering Asia, Europe and Africa.” 

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah (UAE), Doha (Qatar), Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada (Egypt), Beirut (Lebanon), Karachi (Pakistan), Tbilisi and Batumi (Georgia), Baku (Azerbaijan), Yerevan (Armenia), Baghdad, Erbil and Basra (Iraq), Tehran and Tabriz (Iran), Medina and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Almaty, Astana and Shymkent (Kazakhstan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Amman (Jordan), Bahrain and Kuwait are among the destinations served by Pegasus from its SAW hub. 

Pegasus takes delivery of its 100th aircraft

Pegasus Airlines’ 100th aircraft, called Cumhuriyet - which translates as Repblic,  in honour of the Turkish Republic's centenary, has landed at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The new Airbus A321neo features the silhouette and signature of Türkiye’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on its tail.

Continuing to expand its fleet with new generation engine aircraft, Pegasus Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft, named Cumhuriyet in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. The new Airbus A321neo, bearing the tail sign TC-RDP, completed its inaugural journey from Hamburg, Germany, landing at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Saturday, 30 September 2023, at 6pm. 

Mehmet T. Nane, Chairperson of the Board at Pegasus Airlines, and Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, took delivery of the aircraft in person at the Airbus facilities in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft was specially designed to pay tribute to the centenary of the Turkish Republic, featuring the silhouette and signature of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on its tail. Cumhuriyet is the ninth of the 16 new aircraft scheduled to join the Pegasus fleet in 2023, marking the 100th aircraft so far and the 75th aircraft to be delivered as part of the Airbus order signed in 2012, which, through additional agreements over the years was extended to a total of 150 aircraft. 

In her statement, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus, expressed great pride in receiving the airline’s 100th aircraft during the Republic's centenary: "We've now reached our 100-aircraft milestone with our new A321neo aircraft, Cumhuriyet. We are taking strong steps into the future with an extensive international network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus, and across Türkiye from north to east to south and west. With our innovative, rational, principled, and responsible approach, we aim to be one of the industry’s leading low-cost airlines that streamlines air travel while offering affordable fares. 

"We are committed to continuing the transformation that we started in Turkish aviation 18 years ago."

 

Güliz Öztürk emphasised that all aircraft deliveries from 2021 onward consist of A321neo aircraft: "The A321 is widely recognised in the industry as a game-changer, featuring a distinct configuration compared to standard short-to-medium range commercial aircraft. These aircraft offer more capacity through a longer fuselage while maintaining an operational process that aligns well with our current structure. In essence, this allows us to provide higher-capacity services without complicating our operational setup. In this regard, we are yielding high value efficiencies.” She continued: “We are committed to continuing the transformation that we started in Turkish aviation 18 years ago and remain dedicated to excellence. With our aircraft that make up Türkiye’s most modern fleet, we will continue to work with all our strength for our country, our industry, our stakeholders, and our guests.” 

As of 25 September 2023, Pegasus' fleet consists of 100 aircraft, including 15 Boeing B737-800s, six Airbus A320ceos, 46 Airbus A320neos, and 33 Airbus A321neos, making it the youngest fleet in Türkiye with an average age of 4.5 years.

 

Pegasus Airlines announces climate programme partnership with CHOOOSE

Pegasus Airlines is announcing a new climate programme in partnership with climate tech company CHOOOSE, offering passengers the ability to understand and address their travel emissions

Pegasus Airlines, Türkiye's leading low-cost carrier, is announcing a partnership with Norway-based climate tech company CHOOOSE. When travellers book a flight with Pegasus Airlines, they can visit flypgs.chooose.today where they can estimate the carbon impact of their flights and help address their travel emissions by supporting verified climate solutions. 

In a statement affirming their unwavering support for aviation's sustainability goals, Güliz Öztürk, CEO at Pegasus Airlines, said: “At Pegasus Airlines, we are very happy to have taken yet another stride towards sustainability. On climate action, we have committed to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. We have strengthened our commitment further through our emissions intensity target, aiming to reduce carbon emissions per revenue passenger kilometres by 20% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. Our targets will require significant abatement actions in our operations and the infrastructure we use. We are working on a wide range of initiatives to achieve our targets. We also know that our passengers have expectations to be presented with opportunities to take action regarding their travel. When it comes to sustainability, we strongly believe that the entire ecosystem should act together and therefore take collaborative action. Therefore, we wanted to create an additional platform to encourage our guests to contribute to climate action when they travel. We are happy to be launching this new climate program in collaboration with CHOOOSE. We hope that this program will provide us with more opportunities to engage with our guests regarding our sustainability efforts.”

“We are proud to be partnering with Pegasus Airlines and helping their passengers to contribute to climate action. More and more people are looking to understand their emissions and support climate solutions. We at CHOOOSE are excited to be making climate action more accessible to travellers in Türkiye and beyond,” said Andreas Slettvoll, CEO at CHOOOSE.

 

The new platform allows travellers to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and gives passengers and corporate travel managers the option to voluntarily address the carbon emissions associated with their flights by contributing to projects that advance climate action around the world (including supporting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)). The climate program will expand to include a booking flow integration.

Pegasus starts flights to Montenegro

Turkish budget carrier, Pegasus Airlines has launched flights to Montenegro, one of the most popular European holiday destinations from its home base of Istanbul. 

Pegasus Airlines started the new route on 19th July from Istanbul to Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, with the service running four times a week. 

Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Podgorica Airport depart at 11:10 on Mondays, 11:30 on Wednesdays, 11:45 on Fridays and 11:50 on Sundays. Flights from Podgorica Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport depart at 12:50 on Mondays, 13:10 on Wednesdays, 13:25 on Fridays and 13:30 on Sundays. 

As Türkiye’s leading low-cost airline, Pegasus operates with the belief that everyone has the right to travel by air and offers its passengers the opportunity to travel with affordable and young aircraft at very low fares.  The carrier flies to 128 destinations in 49 countries; of which 36 are in 

Turkey and 93 of which are abroad. Pegasus operates connecting flights between Turkey and Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Russia and Central Asia via Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. 

Podgorica, the lively and tourist-friendly capital of Montenegro, welcomes visitors year-round. Montenegro fascinates excursionists with pastoral landscapes on its beautiful mountains, blue-green Dalmatian coasts, and lively culture. Podgorica, the largest city and the capital, becomes the first contact hub for international travelers via its modern airport. This city is located in the western part of the Balkans, with a tight connection to Central Europe and Turkey; it is easily accessible at affordable prices. Pegasus Airlines pioneers cheap Podgorica flight tickets via its comfortable and safe plane fleet. Direct and connecting flights from Istanbul land at Podgorica International Airport in Montenegro. You can fly to Podgorica directly from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk receives international leadership award

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, received the Executive Leadership: Europe award at the Airline Strategy Awards event organised by FlightGlobal’s Airline Business in partnership with the human-capital solutions provider Korn Ferry. 

Güliz Öztürk received the award at the ceremony held in London for her strong leadership of the airline, which has been reflected in impressive financial results and operational efficiency, her work to promote diversity and gender equality within the company and initiatives supporting sustainability goals within the wider aviation industry. 

The Airline Strategy Awards, which are open to any senior executive, or airline team, that have demonstrated excellence in setting out strategies during the last 12 months and seeing them through to success, were presented in nine different categories this year. Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, received the "Executive Leadership: Europe" award, which recognised Pegasus’ flexible capacity management, competitive pricing, ancillary revenue growth, strong digitisation and numerous impressive ESG activities.

Pegasus Airlines Places Order for 36 New A321neo Aircraft

Pegasus Airlines has signed an agreement to purchase 36 new A321neo model aircraft, in addition to the existing aircraft orders placed under the 2012 Airbus order.

Pegasus Airlines has signed an agreement with Airbus for 36 new A321neo aircraft, in line with its strategy to modernise its fleet, focusing on reducing emissions while saving fuel and unit costs. Pegasus had previously modified its Airbus order signed in 2012, to include a total of 114 new aircraft with amendments made in 2017, 2021, and 2022. The delivery of the 36 newly ordered aircraft, in addition to its existing orders, is planned to be completed by the end of 2029. As a result, the original order for 100 A320/321neo family aircraft, placed by Pegasus with Airbus in 2012, has now been extended to a total of 150 aircraft. Among these, 108 are A321neos.

In her statement on the agreement, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: "We embarked on our journey with the belief that everyone has the right to fly and today, we remain equally dedicated to operational efficiency, financial performance, and sustainability for our industry and the world. With these goals in mind, we continue to work diligently and determinedly towards our strategy of fleet modernisation, focusing on fuel and unit cost savings, and emission reductions. Through our recent agreement with Airbus, by adding 36 new 239-seater A321neo aircraft, which are the most efficient aircraft type in their class, we will both expand and modernise our fleet.” 

"With an average age of 4.5 years, we operate the youngest fleet in Türkiye"

Noting that Pegasus have the youngest fleet in Türkiye and one of the youngest fleets among low-cost carriers globally with an average age of 4.5 years, Güliz Öztürk said: "This efficiency makes a significant contribution to reducing fuel consumption and emissions. In addition, we are actively pursuing many more initiatives on the road to net zero. In addition to our fleet transformation with new generation aircraft, we are moving towards this goal through our operational efficiency efforts, increasing our use of sustainable aviation fuel and our focus on alternative energy sources. In 2023 and beyond, our main goal will be to maintain and advance our leading position in the industry with our innovative, rational, principled, and responsible approach.” 

A321neos have higher seat capacity, lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions per seat-kilometre

The A321neo, the latest addition to the Airbus medium-range single-aisle family, is the largest of the group. Due to its 239-seat configuration, it offers significant advantages in terms of capacity utilisation, while also providing significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption due to the technical specifications of the new generation LEAP-1A engines. Airbus states that the new-generation Neo aircraft is 15-20% more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and carbon emissions than its predecessors. The operational performance of the A320/321neo series aircraft validates this efficiency.

Pegasus Airlines prepares for its biggest summer yet from London Stansted

With more flights than ever before to popular destinations across Turkey, Pegasus Airlines is looking forward to its biggest flight schedule yet from London Stansted this summer.

Turkey’s leading low-cost airline is offering more flexibility and choice to holidaymakers in London and the East of England this year by operating 55 direct flights per week to five top destinations across the country, including Istanbul, Antalya, Dalaman, Ankara, and Izmir.

Since launching operations from Stansted in 2007 with a single scheduled flight to Istanbul, the airline has grown significantly carrying six million passengers on routes from the airport.

Chief Financial Officer, Pegasus Airlines’ Barbaros Kubatoğlu said:    “That more than six million passengers have flown with Pegasus Airlines from London Stansted since 2007 is a special milestone in our history.   Connecting people, places, and cultures is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to continue this mission, taking passengers between the UK, Türkiye and beyond.

We continually strive to offer the best possible experience on our well-connected low-cost flights and further our sustainability initiatives.”

 

Pegasus Airlines had the highest operational profitability in the world in 2022......

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines: "With our strong performance in 2022, we became the airline with the highest operational profitability in the world"

Pegasus Airlines held a press conference on Tuesday 6 June 2023 as part of the 79th IATA General Assembly and World Air Transport Summit, hosted by Pegasus. Presenting the latest developments at Pegasus plans for 2023 and future goals, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: "We started 2022 operationally and financially well-prepared and became the airline with the highest operational profitability in the world with our performance. In the first quarter of 2023, we maintained our strong performance despite the hardships we experienced in Türkiye. This successful performance also led to an increase in our credit rating.”

Assessing the year 2022, which began and continued under challenging conditions, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: "2022 was a year in which we achieved significant success thanks to the rapid increase in travel demand, especially in the summer season. In line with our expectation that travel demand may pick up with strong momentum after the easing of restrictions, we kept our operational network and colleagues in all our business units ready to meet the potential demand and increased our capacity to meet the rise in demand." Öztürk continued: "In 2022, we increased our total number of guests by 34% to 26.9 million. Compared to the previous year, the number of guests on our international routes increased by 96%, a much better performance than the overall market. We increased our revenue by 139% to 2.45 billion euros. Compared to 2019, the last normal year, our revenues increased by 41%. Compared to 2019, our total ASK capacity increased by 8% and international capacity by 23%. Our EBITDA margin reached 34.1% at the end of the year, the best performance in the world for this metric. Our net profit for the year was 431 million euros.

"We are pleased with the momentum we have achieved ahead of the peak summer season." 

Commenting on the first months of 2023, Güliz Öztürk said: "We started 2023 under challenging conditions due to global macroeconomic concerns, and subsequently as our country, unfortunately, experienced a major earthquake disaster. We are also in the midst of a period where global inflationary pressures are causing challenges with planning. As Pegasus Airlines, in the first four months of 2023, we have increased our capacity by 32% and the number of our guests by 31% compared to last year. International passenger numbers were up 43% and we are pleased with this momentum ahead of the peak summer season. We aim to continue to develop and improve our key operational and financial performance results in 2023. 

Pegasus Airlines gets credit rating upgrade following strong performance in 2022

Pegasus Airlines' strong financial performance in 2022 has resulted in an upgrade in its credit rating. 

Pegasus Airlines' successful financial performance in 2022 has resulted in an upgrade in its credit rating. Pegasus Airlines' long-term credit rating was upgraded from B+ to BB- by Fitch Ratings Limited (Fitch) on 14 April 2023 and from B to B+ by S&P Global Ratings (S&P) on 23 May 2023. Fitch and S&P announced their credit ratings with “Negative Outlook", mirroring that on the current macroeconomic conditions. The international credit rating agencies have also revised the credit rating of the senior unsecured debt issued by Pegasus Airlines accordingly.

 

In the reports published by Fitch and S&P, the rating upgrade is attributed to Pegasus Airlines' strong operational and financial results in 2022 and the subsequent quarterly period. Among global airline operators, Pegasus Airlines recorded the highest EBITDA margin with 34.1% and the lowest non-fuel unit cost (CASK, non-fuel) with 2.18 euro cents, based on public data. In 2022, Pegasus Airlines increased the number of passengers it carried by 34%, and grew its revenue by 139%, year-on-year. The airline also achieved €69 million EBITDA and a 15.1% EBITDA margin in the first quarter of 2023, making it highest first quarter performance in the company's history.

 

Mehmet T. Nane is named new Chairperson of the Board of Pegasus Airlines

Mehmet T. Nane, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Pegasus Airlines, has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Directors following the decision taken by the Board of Directors after the Ordinary General Meeting on Thursday, 30 March 2023. Mehmet T. Nane succeeds Ali Sabancı, who served as Chairperson of the Board of Pegasus for 17 years. Ali Sabancı will continue to serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Esas Holding and as Board Member of Pegasus Airlines. 

Mehmet T. Nane, who has been serving as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Managing Director of Pegasus Airlines since 31 March 2022, has been appointed as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Pegasus Airlines as of 30 March 2023.

Mehmet T. Nane, who joined Pegasus Airlines in March 2016, served as CEO of the company for six years before assuming the position as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Managing Director in March 2022. Mehmet T. Nane, who continues to serve in various national and international bodies including his roles as Chair of the Board of Governors and the Chair Committee of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Private Aviation Enterprises Association (TÖSHİD), will continue his duties at Pegasus Airlines as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

Pegasus Airlines reports 2022 financial results with 33.7% rise in passenger numbers and €2.45 billion turnover

Pegasus Airlines has announced its annual financial results for 2022. The number of the low-cost airline’s guests increased year-on-year by 33.7% to reach 26.9 million, and its turnover grew by 139% to reach €2.45 billion in 2022. Pegasus achieved a net profit of €431 million for 2022. By the end of 2022, Pegasus had flown 26.9 million guests, comprising 10.9 million on its domestic routes (in Türkiye) and 16.0 million on its international routes. The number of guests on its international routes grew by 96.4% compared to the previous year.

In 2022, as the aviation industry began to recover, Pegasus was among the airlines that recovered capacity the fastest since the pandemic; with the airline reaching EUR 2.45 billion in revenues, up 41% compared to 2019, the last full pre-pandemic year. Reaching an EBITDA margin of 34.1% at the end of the year, Pegasus achieved the highest performance in this metric for the aviation industry in the world in 2022. 

Commenting on the 2022 financial results, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: “I would like to start by saying that we are deeply saddened by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş, and which gravely affected the neighbouring provinces. The losses and our pain are immense.  May those who lost their lives in the earthquake rest in peace, and we express our deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones and wish a fast recovery to those who have been injured. As Pegasus Airlines, we started carrying out many acts of solidarity as soon as the earthquake hit. We scheduled additional flights to support those affected and to assist aid organisations. To date, we have evacuated 152,950 people with 785 evacuation flights from the earthquake zones and carried 111 tonnes of aid material. We have carried 126,926 people, including rescue workers, to the region.”  Öztürk added: "We recognise the need for long-term solidarity. The 6,852-strong Pegasus Family has worked tirelessly, and we will continue to work with all our strength for the people affected by the earthquake and to assist the aid teams. We will overcome these challenging days united in solidarity." 

“Working hard for our industry and our guests”

Pegasus Airlines Statement following the Earthquake in Kahramanmaraş

Pegasus Airlines Statement following the Earthquake in Kahramanmaraş

We are deeply saddened by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş, and which has affected many provinces. May those who lost their lives rest in peace. Our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and we wish a fast recovery to those who have been injured.

We would like to inform you about the activities carried out by Pegasus Airlines within the scope of earthquake solidarity. 

Pegasus Airlines closes the first ever sustainability-linked aircraft-secured term loan with Ex-Im support

Pegasus Airlines closes the first-ever sustainability-linked aircraft-secured term loan with Ex-Im support

Pegasus Airlines closed the first ever sustainability-linked aircraft-secured term loan (“SLL”), which was guaranteed by UK Export Finance for the financing of ten new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Pegasus Airlines closed the first ever sustainability-linked aircraft-secured term loan (“SLL”), which was guaranteed by UK Export Finance for the financing of ten new Airbus A321neo aircraft. 

The transaction was led by Societe Generale, acting as global arranger, sustainability structurer, facility agent and security trustee. The highly innovative transaction is remarkable in several respects: it is the first-ever aircraft export credit facility incorporating sustainability-linked features, as well as the largest aircraft-secured sustainability-linked term loan executed in the market to date and the first one to be verified by a Second Party Opinion provided by an independent ESG ratings and analytics agency. 

The terms of the financing are indexed on Pegasus Airlines’ future achievements in respect of two ambitious sustainability-linked Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): carbon intensity of flights and gender diversity in management positions. 

Pegasus Airlines, which has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050, will reach its environmental targets through fleet optimization, operations efficiency, and sustainable aviation fuels usage. To reach its gender diversity objectives, the airline will leverage on and further strengthen long- standing commitments in promoting gender balance.

 

IATA Wings of Change Europe kicks off, hosted by Pegasus Airlines in Istanbul

The third edition of IATA Wings of Change Europe (WoCE), organised by The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and hosted by Pegasus Airlines, has kicked off in Istanbul.

Mehmet T. Nane & Willie Walsh Photo Pegasus Airlines

The third edition of IATA Wings of Change Europe (WoCE), organised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and hosted by Pegasus Airlines, has kicked off in Istanbul today, 8 November 2022, following previous editions in Madrid and Berlin. Attendees on the first day included Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan; Chair of the IATA Board of Governors and Pegasus Airlines Vice-Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director, Mehmet T. Nane; IATA Director General, Willie Walsh; and Pegasus Airlines CEO, Güliz Öztürk, along with government officials, industry representatives and aviation professionals from Turkey and many other countries.

 

On the second day, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, Özgül Özcan Yavuz, will deliver the opening address of the conference, where significant topics such as the post-pandemic recovery, environmental and financial sustainability, accessibility, inclusivity, diversity, tourism and digitalisation are being addressed. Topics of discussion will include insights around the current state of the sector and what’s next for the air transport industry, as well as the tourism industry ecosystem.

 

Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan  Photo Pegasus Airlines

Delivering a speech at the conference, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan, said: “As a country we have the geographical advantage of being within a four-hour flight distance to 67 countries with 1.6 billion people and 8 trillion dollars of trade volume. Combining this strong geographical advantage with our strong airlines, comprehensive maintenance centres, modern airports, promising aviation training centres, and well-trained personnel, Turkey is in a great position to become a world leader in aviation. New ideas and policies that are to be discussed here during this event will determine the roadmap of European aviation in the coming period. We believe that all challenges can be overcome first with regional and then with strong global cooperation.”

 

Delivering the opening address on the first day of the conference, Chair of the IATA Board of Governors and Pegasus Airlines Vice-Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director, Mehmet T. Nane, said: “The past few years have been the most difficult of the aviation industry to date. We have experienced and learned a lot. Now it is the time to recover and build back stronger than ever. We firmly believe in the power of working together to shape the future growth of a safe, secure and sustainable aviation industry that connects and enriches our world. We all have the power to achieve this and to make it happen, as long as we join forces and stand shoulder to shoulder. That is why a united aviation ecosystem is vital, because only then can we build on each other’s strengths and achieve far greater things than we can individually, from innovation and diversity to safety and sustainability.” He continued: “Stakeholders from across the aviation sector are united on the need for regulations which promote the coexistence of different business models, encouraging healthy competition and maximum consumer choice. Turkey is a good example of how to grow national connectivity and allow different kinds of carriers to succeed. And what is crucial is that policies for growth go hand in hand with sustainable solutions.”

 

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, who also spoke at the event said: "As Pegasus Airlines, we are delighted to host IATA Wings of Change Europe, one of the most important aviation conferences in the European region. At this important event, we come together with aviation professionals from all over the world to exchange ideas and discuss highly significant issues that will shape the future of our industry. I am pleased that we can emphasise the importance of an inclusive and diverse corporate culture within the global aviation industry and underline that companies should be prioritising these issues. I look forward to witnessing the positive outcomes that this gathering will bring”.

 

And IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, said: “Europe, just like the rest of the world, relies on air connectivity, which is vital for society, tourism, and trade. Business users of the European air transport network - large and small - have confirmed this in a recent IATA survey: 82% say that access to global supply chains is ‘existential’ for their business. And 84% ‘cannot imagine doing business’ without access to air transport networks,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, and continued: “We should be focusing on incentivizing SAF production in the greatest quantities at the lowest cost, wherever that may be.”

Pegasus Airlines received an award in the "Risk Management and Resilience" category at the EuroFinance Treasury Excellence Awards 2022.

Pegasus Airlines received an award in the "Risk Management and Resilience" category at the annual EuroFinance Treasury Excellence Awards, organized by EuroFinance. The "Risk Management and Resilience” Award recognises astute risk management actions by treasury that protected staff and enabled their companies to survive.

Commenting on the award, Barbaros Kubatoğlu, Chief Financial Officer of Pegasus Airlines, said: "Aviation is one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, there were months when we had to halt all our flights due to travel restrictions. During this challenging period, as we managed our treasury operations, our focus areas were the protection of our equity and the effective management of our cash flow in case the pandemic continued. We believe that we successfully navigated through this period by managing our treasury position on a day-to-day basis. We continually updated our hedging policy, especially by closely monitoring brent oil prices. In order to keep our cash position under control and meet our funding needs, we used loans, issued USD-denominated Eurobonds and TL-denominated bonds." And continued: "All of this was accomplished in one year and with our balance sheet results nearing 2019 year-end figures, we are now an airline that came out of the pandemic stronger. This significant award that we receive from EuroFinance is a great source of pride for us..."

Pegasus Airlines appoints Ahmet Bağdat as Director of Marketing and E-commerce

Pegasus Airlines appoints Ahmet Bağdat as Director of Marketing and E-commerce

Ahmet Bağdat, who’s been serving as Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing at Pegasus Airlines since 2017, has been appointed as Director of Marketing and E-commerce.

18 August 2022 Ahmet Bağdat, who’s been serving as Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing at Pegasus Airlines since 2017, has been appointed Director of Marketing and E-commerce. Mr Bağdat will be responsible for Pegasus Airlines' brand management, e-commerce and digital channel management, data analytics, ancillary product development and management, loyalty management, guest experience functions, and leading the development and execution of the marketing strategy.

Ahmet Bağdat graduated from Boğaziçi University, Industrial Engineering and received his MBA from UCLA (University of California - Los Angeles) Anderson School of Management in 2011. He started his career as an MT at Demirbank/HSBC Bank in 2000. He then held positions as Management Information Systems Specialist at Alarko Tourism Group, Marketing Specialist at Turkish Airlines and Assistant Manager, Business Solutions at HSBC Bank. In 2006, he moved to Turkcell, first as Product Marketing Manager, Value Added Services then as Head of Offer and Solution Development. Between 2015-2017, he worked as Mobile Voice and Data Marketing Manager at Türk Telekom. In 2017, Ahmet Bağdat joined Pegasus Airlines as Head of Product Marketing and Ancillary Services and has been Group Head of Digital Channel Management and Growth Marketing for the last one and a half years.

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, receives the "Inspirational Role Model" Award from IATA

Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, was awarded the "Inspirational Role Model Award" at the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards 2022 organised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Güliz Öztürk, who carries out many activities on gender balance, both institutionally and individually, received this special award, which aims to recognise and celebrate the great work that is being done to ensure Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Award was presented at the 78th IATA’s Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Doha by IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh and Qatar Airways Group CEO His Excellency Akbar Al Baker.

 

Speaking about the "Inspirational Role Model Award", presented to women leaders who have a significant impact on the aviation agenda through their strong contribution to business delivery, as well as their ongoing support of the diversity and inclusion agenda, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: "It is a great honour to receive such a significant and special award. As Pegasus Airlines, we are a company that places great importance on diversity and inclusion. We have been at the centre of the struggle for gender equality in particular for many years and have been carrying out a lot of work in this field. We are proud of the fact that our female employees have made their mark in every field in our company from pilots to senior management." And she continued: "We will make every effort, institutionally and individually, to contribute to the equal participation of all individuals, regardless of gender, in all areas of social life and to enable women to express their full potential, and we will continue to work with all our strength with the aim of achieving a more equal future."

 

Pegasus' work on gender equality