It seems AirAsia X is going to try low-cost long-haul operations again to Europe, with the airline planning a new route to Istanbul, Turkey.
AirAsia X Airbus A330-300 – Image, Air Asia.
The new direct service between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul will commence on 14th November 2025 with four weekly flights, marking a significant step in Air AsiaX’s network expansion.
The route marks the return of Air AsiaX to Europe, with London and Paris served last in 2012.
The airline will operate from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), allowing connections to 117 international and 40 domestic destinations (as opposed to arriving at Istanbul International Airport). Those connecting at Kuala Lumpur will have access Air Asia’s network of 130 destinations.
Planned operations are as follows:
D7604 DEPART KUL 09:35 ARRIVE SAW 1605 D7605 DEPART SAW 17:20 ARRIVE KIL– 0840+1 Commences 14th November Operates Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays Booked Equipment: Air AsiaX Airbus A330-300
Air AsiaX plans to operate its KL-Istanbul route with its Airbus A330-300 fleet. The airline offers four different configurations of this type, so you’ll need to check what they offer.
In Quotes
Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, said:
“Istanbul has always been a dream destination for many of our guests, and its launch marks another proud moment in our journey to rebuild stronger than ever. Hot on the heels of our recent expansion into Central Asia, this long-awaited route takes us one step closer to delivering longer connectivity across continents. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul perfectly captures our vision to bridge Asia and beyond through affordable, medium-haul travel. This is a strategic decision that strengthens our network, creates more pathways for business collaboration, and enhances access to new experiences for travellers around the world.
“This new route also opens the door to an affordable Umrah Plus Istanbul package offered by ikhlas.com, the Islamic lifestyle arm of Capital A, giving our Muslim guests the opportunity to combine their spiritual journey with a visit to one of the world’s most iconic cities. From Istanbul, our guests can connect seamlessly to destinations across Asia, including Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, China, Thailand and more through our convenient Fly-Thru service, without the need to recheck baggage. Likewise, travellers from Europe and beyond can now access the wonders of Southeast Asia with ease through our extensive network.”
H.E. Emir Salim Yüksel, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Malaysia, added:
“This new additional connection between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul is a tangible step in strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Malaysia and Türkiye. It will not only boost tourism flows, but also expand business links, foster industry collaboration, and open new pathways for education, innovation and people-to-people engagement. By enhancing air connectivity, we are bringing our regions closer in a way that benefits travellers, communities and economies alike.”
Trying Europe again
It’s been some time since AirAsia X has been to European shores, so, interestingly, they’re trying Turkey as their first destination, with the airline hoping for tourism and pilgrimage traffic in the first instance, as it eyes Western Europe.
It’s a hard nut to crack, with issues with fuel costs, having the right sort of aircraft and the utilisation of those aircraft for the long missions, when they could be working shorter flights with higher utilisation.
Long-haul to Europe has always been an ambition of the airline. That’s to be applauded as this brings choice to the market, especially with the choice of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The challenge is to ensure it’s delivered at a manageable cost, whilst ensuring revenue can cover the route and filling the aircraft with passengers…
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