Turkey’s largest LCC to launch flights to Uzbekistan

Photo: CentralAsia+Aero

Turkey’s largest low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has announced the launch of services to Uzbekistan. Starting December 14, the airline will operate flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Bukhara, followed by Andijan on December 18, and Termez on March 1. Furthermore, airport operator Uzbekistan Airports confirmed that negotiations are in progress to add two more destinations: Karshi and Nukus.

Pegasus will be the sole operator on the first two routes, serving both twice weekly. The Termez–Istanbul route is currently served by Uzbek carrier Fly Khiva. Pegasus plans to offer three weekly flights on this leg.

The destination selection indicates a clear strategy by Pegasus to avoid direct competition with Turkish flag carrier Turkish Airlines. The latter operates direct flights from Istanbul to Tashkent, Samarkand, and Urgench, while serving Bukhara and Termez via connection in Tashkent on code-share partner Uzbekistan Airways.

Uzbekistan will become the sixth country in the Central Asia and South Caucasus region in the Pegasus network. The Turkish LCC currently operates flights to Azerbaijan (Baku, Ganja), Armenia (Yerevan), Georgia (Batumi, Kutaisi, Tbilisi), Kazakhstan (Aktau, Aktobe, Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, Shymkent and Uralsk), and Kyrgyzstan (Osh).