Tourism Breaking News
AirAsia X (AAX) announced a long-awaited route to Istanbul, Türkiye, a city where East meets West. Travellers from Singapore can now access the heart of Türkiye with smooth connectivity via Kuala Lumpur. The new service between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul will commence on 14 November 2025 with four weekly flights, strengthening AAX’s global footprint and offering more affordable travel options to one of the world’s most iconic destinations. This strategic launch marks AAX’s long-anticipated entry into Europe, opening a vital gateway linking Southeast Asia to Europe via one of the world’s most historically rich and geographically unique destinations. Straddling two continents across the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul offers travellers the rare opportunity to experience the best of both worlds.
The airline will operate from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a major hub with connections to over 117 international and 40 domestic destinations. This provides guests from Southeast Asia even greater onward travel options, while giving travellers from Istanbul and beyond seamless access to AirAsia’s network of 130 destinations at unbeatable value.
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. With the introduction of the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul route, Singaporean travellers can now enjoy seamless Fly-Thru connection to one of the world’s most iconic transcontinental cities through a more affordable travel option.”
“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. With our seamless Fly-Thru services via Kuala Lumpur, travellers from Singapore can now enjoy convenient one-stop access to Istanbul without the hassle of baggage recheck. Likewise, it allows guests from Türkiye to easily discover the rich diversity of Southeast Asia, including Singapore, through our vast network.”
In celebration of this milestone, AAX is offering introductory promotional fares from SGD299* all-in one way. Flights are available for booking starting today until 20 August 2025 for the travel period between 14 November 2025 and 24 October 2026, on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app. As Türkiye’s largest city and economic powerhouse, Istanbul is a captivating destination that offers opportunities to travellers from all walks of life. From iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, to the lively Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, the city is a treasure trove of history and vibrant local life.
AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK) operates 11 daily flights weekly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Flight Schedule between Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL):
Flight Schedule between Kuala Lumpur [KUL] and Istanbul (Sabiha) [SAW]:
*All-in fares are quoted for one-way travel only, including passenger service charge, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. T&C apply.
