AirAsia X Plans Kuala Lumpur Istanbul Flights November

AirAsia X is set to resume long-haul flights to Europe by launching a new direct route between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul, Turkey, starting November 14, 2025, with four weekly flights. This marks the airline’s strategic re-entry into the European market after more than a decade, aiming to provide affordable travel options and enhance connectivity between Southeast Asia and Europe. Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport will serve as a key hub, offering passengers access to over 117 international and 40 domestic destinations, facilitating seamless onward travel. The new route supports AirAsia X’s broader growth plans to expand its global footprint, improve business collaboration, tourism, and cultural exchange, and includes promotional fares to attract travelers. AirAsia X will operate Airbus A330-300 aircraft on this route and compete with Turkish Airlines, which currently dominates the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul market. This launch aligns with the company’s ambition to become a global low-cost carrier network, complementing its recent expansion into Central Asia and plans for further long-haul growth.