Pegasus launches direct flights between Ljubljana, Istanbul

Air connectivity between Slovenia and Turkey has received a boost as Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines launched direct flights between Ljubljana Airport and Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport, the city's second-busiest hub.

The new service will operate three times a week, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

Ljubljana and Istanbul have been linked since 2006 by Turkish Airlines, which currently operates two daily flights between the Slovenian capital and Istanbul Airport, Europe's second-largest airport. Frequencies are set to rise to up to 18 flights per week during the summer season, reflecting strong demand on the route.

Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana Airport, said the arrival of Pegasus is expected to further increase passenger numbers and strengthen business and tourism ties between the countries.

Turkey's leading low-cost carrier, which currently serves more than 150 destinations worldwide, will fly between Ljubljana and Sabiha Gokcen on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. One-way fares start at €49.

Sabiha Gokcen handles around 48 million passengers a year and serves as Pegasus's main hub, offering extensive onward connections, particularly to destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Janez Krašnja, head of airport services at Fraport Slovenija, said Pegasus is likely to appeal mainly to point-to-point travellers between Slovenia and Turkey, while Turkish Airlines primarily caters to passengers using Istanbul as a transfer hub.

The new route is expected to carry at least 25,000 passengers annually.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk said the Ljubljana service forms part of the company's continued expansion across Europe, describing the Slovenian capital as a vibrant and increasingly popular destination.

Ljubljana Airport handled 1.6 million passengers last year and expects even better figures in 2026. It plans to offer scheduled services to around 30 destinations, with ambitions to further expand the network. Vienna, Prague, Stockholm, Sofia and Tirana are among the cities on the operator's wish list.

Photo courtesy of Fraport Slovenija