Pegasus Airlines jets into top 5 at Stansted Airport

Pegasus Airlines, Turkey’s leading low-cost airline, has become Stansted airport's fifth top scheduled airline with regard to the number of passengers flown during 2011, with the January-July 2011 period seeing a 58.2% increase. This astonishing growth was during a period when Stansted saw a slight (1.2%) decrease in passenger numbers overall during the same period.

During July 2011 Pegasus flew 24,674 passengers on return flights between London Stansted and Turkey, a year on year increase of 87.8%. While for 2011 to date approximately 500,000 passengers were carried between London and Turkey. Destinations served were direct flights to Istanbul with connections around Turkey and North Cyprus; as well as direct flights also to Izmir and Bodrum. 

As Turkey's fastest growing airline Pegasus increased its service to 10 weekly flights from London Stansted in October. Passenger numbers continue to grow with a 4.5-fold in just 5 years, flying 26 million guests during this period. Last year alone Pegasus Airlines flew 8.6 million guests. On a daily basis Pegasus currently operates 94 flights and carries an average of 13,338 guests on its international routes, while there are 163 flights and an average of 24,727 guests a day on its routes within Turkey.

Commenting on the figures, Ms. Guliz Ozturk, Senior Vice President, Commercial, said “We are delighted to continue to expand our operations from London's Stansted airport having become their new official welcome site partner in October. Stansted is a very important hub for us, allowing us to fly our valued guests from the UK to Turkey, North Cyprus and beyond.”

Nick Barton, Managing Director of London Stansted said "It is fantastic to see Pegasus Airlines passenger numbers grow at Stansted. Turkey has been incredibly popular from Stansted last summer, with Pegasus adding hundreds of additional flights over July and August to meet demand. Pegasus has been operating from the airport for five years and we are committed to working with them to continue this success."

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