- Mr Plane Guy
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
Pegasus Airlines Gatwick to Istanbul: Flights, Baggage, Reviews & Everything You Need to Know
By Mr Plane Guy, Travel Blogger & Flight Expert
Disclosure: I am working with Pegasus Airlines to experience and promote its new London Gatwick to Istanbul route. This article includes independently written information and may contain affiliate links. I will always share my Plane Honest opinion.
London Gatwick has gained a major new connection to Türkiye, with Pegasus Airlines launching daily direct flights from Gatwick to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The new route gives travellers across London, Surrey, Sussex and the wider South East another lower-cost option for reaching Istanbul, while also opening up connections across Pegasus Airlines’ extensive network.
Flights operate from Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal, which is particularly good news for anyone who prefers starting a trip with an airport lounge visit rather than battling for a seat beside the departure board.
Pegasus says the daily summer service operates between London Gatwick and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, with one-way fares initially advertised from £54.99 including taxes. Passengers can also connect through Sabiha Gökçen to 160 destinations in 56 countries, including 39 destinations across Türkiye. (Pegasus Airlines)
I’ll be flying this new Pegasus route myself and will soon be publishing a complete review covering the seats, cabin baggage rules, onboard food, comfort, service and whether Pegasus Airlines really is a good option for travelling to Türkiye.
Quick Answer
Pegasus Airlines now operates daily direct flights from London Gatwick (LGW) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Fares start from £54.99, and the airline offers connections to more than 160 destinations across Türkiye, Europe and the Middle East.
London Gatwick to Istanbul flight details
The new service operates daily between:
London Gatwick Airport – LGW and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport – SAW
The published summer schedule is:
Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival |
PC1185 | Istanbul SAW to Gatwick | 11:55 | 14:15 |
PC1186 | Gatwick to Istanbul SAW | 15:20 | 21:15 |
Flight schedules can change, so passengers should check the exact timings shown on their booking.
The typical London to Istanbul flight time is around four hours, although the scheduled journey from Gatwick is slightly longer once taxiing, air traffic and the two-hour time difference are factored in.
Need to park at Gatwick? Full details and discount code for airport parking in this blog post.
Which Gatwick terminal does Pegasus Airlines use?
Pegasus Airlines operates its new Istanbul flights from London Gatwick South Terminal.
The South Terminal has several useful facilities, including shops, restaurants and airport lounges. It also has my favourite Nando's!
If you're looking for a quieter start to your journey, I'd recommend reading my guide to the
The two options I would particularly consider are:
Clubrooms at Gatwick South
Clubrooms is designed as the more premium option, with table service, a quieter environment and a more upmarket feel than a traditional airport lounge.
No1 Lounge Gatwick South
No1 Lounge is the more relaxed choice with food, drinks and seating away from the main terminal. It can become busy during peak periods, so pre-booking is sensible.
Priority Pass members may be able to access participating Gatwick lounges,
Where does Pegasus fly to in Istanbul?
This is where passengers need to pay attention.
Pegasus does not fly this route to Istanbul Airport, known by the code IST.
It flies to:
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)
Istanbul has two major commercial airports:
Istanbul Airport – IST, on the European side
Sabiha Gökçen Airport – SAW, on the Asian side
Sabiha Gökçen is Pegasus Airlines’ principal hub and is particularly convenient for Kadıköy and other parts of Istanbul’s Asian side.
It can also be useful for onward flights across Türkiye, the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of Europe.
However, passengers staying around Sultanahmet, Taksim or Istanbul’s main European-side tourist areas should allow adequate time for the airport transfer. Traffic in Istanbul can be unpredictable, and crossing between the Asian and European sides can take considerably longer at busy times.
👉 Coming soon: My complete Sabiha Gökçen Airport guide
Is Pegasus Airlines a low-cost airline?
Yes. Pegasus Airlines operates as a low-cost carrier, meaning the headline fare may not include everything passengers expect from a traditional full-service airline.
Depending on the fare bundle selected, additional charges can apply for:
Larger cabin baggage
Checked luggage
Seat selection
Food and drinks
Priority services
Ticket flexibility
That does not automatically make it poor value. The key is comparing the final price, including everything needed, rather than only comparing the first fare shown.
A £60 flight with baggage and seat selection added could end up costing considerably more. But if you manage to travel with only a small bag, you may secure an excellent deal!
Pegasus Airlines operates as a scheduled low-cost carrier and now serves 160 destinations across 56 countries, covering Türkiye, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus.
For British travellers, that means the new London Gatwick service is useful not only for city breaks in Istanbul, but also for connecting to destinations across Türkiye and beyond.
I've always believed in spending money where it actually improves the trip. I'd much rather save £100 on the flight and spend it on a better hotel, a great meal or a hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
What is the Pegasus Airlines baggage allowance?
Pegasus baggage allowances depend on the route, ticket type and fare package purchased.
The airline offers different bundles, and the cheapest option may include only a small underseat item. Pegasus describes its Light Package on selected routes as including one cabin item measuring up to 40 × 30 × 20cm.
Airline baggage fees are nearly always easier to manage online than at the airport.
If you’re looking for something that actually fits airline rules without the stress at the gate, I’ve tested what I think is the best carry-on suitcase for frequent travellers here.
If there's one thing low-cost airlines have taught me over the years, it's this: always check the baggage rules before you book. A bargain fare can stop looking like a bargain surprisingly quickly.
What Is Pegasus Flex?
If you need additional flexibility, you can consider adding Pegasus Flex. This allows the ticket to be changed or cancelled up to 12 hours before departure, subject to the applicable terms and any fare difference.
That could be worth considering if your plans are uncertain or, like me, you tend to change your mind a lot.
Does Pegasus Airlines Have a Loyalty Programme?
Yes. Pegasus Airlines operates a free loyalty programme called BolBol.
Members earn BolPoints when they fly and through selected partner offers. Those points can then be used toward:
Pegasus flights
Seat selection
Additional baggage
Meals
Other eligible travel extras
BolPoints can also be combined with cash, which may be useful when a member does not have enough points to cover the full cost.
For travellers planning several trips within Türkiye, or using Pegasus for onward connections, joining BolBol before booking could be an easy way to avoid leaving points behind.
Is Pegasus Airlines safe?
Questions such as “Is Pegasus Airlines safe?” are understandably common when British travellers encounter an airline they have not flown before. Pegasus operates one of Europe’s youngest large airline fleets.
The airline received ch-aviation’s World’s Second Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award for 2025 in the category covering airlines with more than 100 aircraft. It had previously ranked fourth globally in 2024.
A younger fleet does not automatically guarantee a better passenger experience, but modern aircraft such as the Airbus A321neo generally offer improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and quieter cabins compared with older aircraft.
Pegasus among world’s top five airlines for punctuality
Low fares don't have to mean poor reliability. Pegasus Airlines was ranked the fifth most punctual major airline in the world in OAG's June 2026 On-Time Performance report, with 83.1% of flights arriving on time and a cancellation rate of just 0.26%. If getting to your destination on schedule matters, that's an impressive statistic for a low-cost airline.
Is Sabiha Gökçen a good airport for connections?
It can be extremely useful.
Pegasus connects through Sabiha Gökçen to 160 destinations in 56 countries, including 39 destinations within Türkiye. (Pegasus Airlines)
That makes the Gatwick route useful for much more than a city break in Istanbul.
Possible onward destinations include:
Cappadocia via Kayseri or Nevşehir-area connections
Antalya
Bodrum
Dalaman
İzmir
Ankara
Trabzon
Destinations across the Middle East and Central Asia
Pegasus also promotes domestic flights as an affordable and practical way to explore different areas of Türkiye.
I’ll be using the network to travel beyond Istanbul and create a complete series showing how British travellers can combine a lower-cost flight with a more luxurious hotel or experience.
That is exactly what Luxury for Less means to me: save money where it makes sense, then spend it on the parts of a trip that genuinely matter.
Can you fly from Gatwick to Cappadocia?
There is no direct Pegasus flight from Gatwick to Cappadocia, but passengers can connect at Sabiha Gökçen for an onward domestic flight.
Cappadocia is served principally through:
Kayseri Erkilet Airport – ASR
Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport – NAV
Kayseri often has a wider choice of flights, while Nevşehir can be closer to some of the main Cappadocia towns.
My upcoming Türkiye trip will include Istanbul and Cappadocia, with coverage of:
Flying Pegasus Airlines from Gatwick
Connecting through Sabiha Gökçen
The best Cappadocia cave hotels
Hot-air balloon experiences
Airport transfers
Where to stay in Göreme
How many days visitors really need
How does Pegasus compare with Turkish Airlines?
Pegasus and Turkish Airlines serve different parts of the market.
Turkish Airlines is a full-service carrier that generally includes more within the fare and operates from Istanbul Airport.
Pegasus Airlines operates a lower-cost model and uses Sabiha Gökçen as its main hub.
The better option depends on several factors:
The final fare after extras
Which side of Istanbul you are visiting
Your baggage requirements
Departure times
Onward connections
Whether meals and seat selection matter
Which London airport is more convenient
For travellers living south of London, Gatwick may be substantially easier than travelling to Stansted or Luton. That convenience alone can make the new route particularly attractive.
Pegasus expands its UK network
Pegasus already operates between London Stansted and Istanbul, but the Gatwick service gives the airline a second London gateway.
Its wider UK network now covers six airports, with services from:
London Gatwick
London Stansted
Manchester
Birmingham
Bristol
Edinburgh
Pegasus describes the UK as one of its most important markets, and the new Gatwick route increases its access to travellers across London and the South East.
How to find cheap flights from Gatwick to Istanbul
Compare current fares from London Gatwick to Istanbul below. Remember to check whether the result is for Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), as they are on different sides of the city.
There is no single guaranteed trick, but these steps can improve the chances of finding a lower fare:
Compare the final cost
Include baggage, seats, payment fees, transport to the airport and the cost of travelling from the arrival airport.
Check flexible dates
Flying midweek can sometimes be cheaper than departing on a Friday evening or during a school holiday.
Compare both Istanbul airports
A cheaper flight to SAW may not be cheaper overall if the hotel is much closer to IST or vice versa.
Book baggage early
Adding bags online is commonly cheaper than paying at the airport.
Compare Gatwick with other London airports
Pegasus also flies from Stansted, while other airlines serve Istanbul from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted.
Use flight-deal alerts
Jack’s Flight Club sends alerts covering economy, premium economy and business-class fares, including occasional error fares.
Final Boarding Call
The arrival of a daily Pegasus flight gives travellers another way to fly from London Gatwick to Istanbul, increases competition and provides access to a substantial network of onward destinations.
Gatwick South Terminal is also far more convenient than Stansted for many passengers across southern England.
The important thing is understanding what is included in the fare, checking the baggage rules and remembering that Sabiha Gökçen is on Istanbul’s Asian side.
I’ll reserve my final verdict until I have flown the route myself.
For now, though, the combination of daily flights, potentially attractive fares and extensive connections makes this one of Gatwick’s most interesting new routes of 2026.
Mr Plane Guy
Plane Honest reviews. Let’s make travel better.
Pegasus Airlines Gatwick to Istanbul: Flights, Baggage, Reviews & Everything You Need to Know
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