London Gatwick to Istanbul Türkiye Travel Surges as Pegasus Airlines Rolls Out Daily Flights Across Europe
Crystal Travel | Travel News | 27 June 2026
Pegasus Airlines is fuelling a major travel surge between the UK and Türkiye with ultra-cheap daily flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul, giving British travellers an affordable and reliable gateway into one of Europe's most captivating destinations.
Pegasus Airlines Daily Gatwick to Istanbul Flights Open Up Affordable UK–Türkiye Travel
Pegasus Airlines is making a significant impact on the UK travel market with its daily low-cost flights between London Gatwick Airport and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. The Turkish budget carrier has quickly become a popular choice among British passengers, offering competitive fares on a route that has traditionally been dominated by higher-priced full-service airlines. With daily departures now firmly in place, affordable travel between the United Kingdom and Türkiye has never been more accessible.
The route is drawing particular interest from travellers across London and the south of England, where Gatwick serves as a well-connected and convenient departure hub for millions of passengers each year.
Who Is Pegasus Airlines? Türkiye's Low-Cost Carrier Growing Across Europe
Pegasus Airlines was founded in 1990 and relaunched as a low-cost carrier in 2005. Based at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on the city's Asian side, the airline has grown into one of Türkiye's largest carriers, operating routes across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Its expansion into the UK market targets passengers who want direct, affordable connectivity to Istanbul without the premium pricing of full-service airlines.
Affordable Flights Boost British Travel Demand for Istanbul
Istanbul Travel Demand Rises as British Tourists Return to Türkiye's Iconic City
Istanbul has long held a place among Europe's most visited cities, and demand from UK travellers is on a clear upward trend. The city's position spanning two continents gives it a cultural richness that few destinations can match. From the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace to the Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus waterfront, Istanbul offers something for every type of traveller. City breakers, history lovers, and food enthusiasts are all finding it an increasingly attractive and affordable proposition as competitive fares bring the overall cost of the trip down considerably.
Onward Connections from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Across Türkiye and Beyond
Flying into Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen with Pegasus Airlines offers more than just access to the city. The airport serves as the airline's primary hub, connecting passengers to an extensive domestic network across Türkiye. Destinations including Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir, and the Cappadocia region are all reachable via onward Pegasus services, making it straightforward for British travellers to combine an Istanbul stay with wider exploration of the country. For those planning a multi-destination Turkish itinerary, this connectivity through a single low-cost airline adds genuine practical value.
What This Means for British Travellers Planning Trips to Türkiye
The growth of Pegasus Airlines across its European network is welcome news for UK passengers seeking affordable and flexible travel options to Türkiye. Daily departures from London Gatwick provide a dependable and budget-friendly foundation for trip planning, whether the journey ends in Istanbul or extends further into the country.
British travellers looking to explore Türkiye this year can speak with Crystal Travel's experienced travel agents for flight availability and booking support.
He is Director of Operations at Moresand Limited, running Crystaltravel.co.uk (38 years in business, 38,000+ Trustpilot reviews) and Mundotrip.com. 20+ years in travel, from retail and B2B distribution to operations. His team processes thousands of bookings annually across flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and packages. Information on this site comes from actual booking data and supplier records.