Air Canada and Türkiye’s Pegasus Airlines have signed a new interline partnership that will streamline travel between Canada and key Turkish destinations, offering single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage via major European hubs.
New Alliance Connects Canada and Türkiye Through Europe
Announced on February 19, 2026, the interline agreement between Air Canada and Pegasus Airlines creates a new one-stop bridge between Canadian cities and Türkiye’s most popular points, Istanbul and Izmir. The deal allows Air Canada customers to book journeys that combine long-haul segments from Canada with Pegasus-operated flights within Europe and onward to Türkiye, all issued on a single ticket.
Under the partnership, travelers departing Canada on Air Canada services to Europe can now connect to nine Pegasus routes feeding into Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on the city’s Asian side, as well as Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport on Türkiye’s Aegean coast. For passengers, the most immediate benefits are simplified booking, coordinated schedules and baggage that is checked through to the final destination.
The move deepens Air Canada’s reach into a growing leisure and business market while leveraging Pegasus’s dense network across Türkiye and surrounding regions. For Pegasus, plugging into Air Canada’s long-haul transatlantic system opens access to a broader base of North American travelers at a time of strong demand for Türkiye as a year-round destination.
Industry analysts note that while the agreement stops short of a full codeshare at launch, it marks an important first step in bringing a major North American flag carrier together with one of Europe’s largest low-cost operators in a more seamless way for customers.
Major European Gateways Power the New Network
The backbone of the new cooperation is a series of established European gateways already served by Air Canada. From Canada, passengers can fly non-stop to cities including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Munich, Geneva, Vienna, Zurich and Athens, then transfer to Pegasus flights bound for Türkiye.
At launch, eight European hubs are included. From Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Vienna, Zurich and Athens, Pegasus operates services to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, one of Türkiye’s busiest airports and a fast-growing alternative to Istanbul Airport on the European side of the city. In addition, a Pegasus route from Frankfurt to Izmir Adnan Menderes is incorporated into the agreement, opening easy access to the Aegean coast.
These gateways are strategically important for both airlines. For Air Canada, they are well-established transatlantic points with strong demand from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and other Canadian cities. For Pegasus, they are among the key European cities that feed its low-cost network into Türkiye and beyond, allowing the new partnership to build on frequencies and infrastructure already in place.
The reliance on multiple European connection points also gives travelers flexibility in how they plan journeys. Depending on origin, schedule and season, a traveler might choose to connect in Frankfurt on one trip and in Zurich or Amsterdam on another, with all segments ticketed and handled under the same interline framework.
How the Interline Agreement Works for Passengers
For travelers, the most visible change brought by the interline alliance is the ability to book an itinerary from a Canadian origin to Istanbul or Izmir on a single ticket, even though different airlines operate different legs of the journey. A typical trip might see a passenger fly Air Canada from Toronto to Frankfurt, then connect to a Pegasus flight onward to Izmir, with both segments issued as one itinerary.
Because of the interline arrangement, baggage is tagged through from the Canadian departure point all the way to the Turkish destination. That means passengers do not need to collect and recheck their bags when changing from Air Canada to Pegasus in Europe, a convenience that can be particularly important on tight connections or for travelers unfamiliar with transfer procedures at large hubs.
The agreement also coordinates minimum connection times and booking processes between the two airlines. Reservations systems recognize the interline partnership, enabling travel agents, online booking platforms and the carriers’ own channels to sell combined itineraries. In case of irregular operations such as delays or missed connections, responsibilities are more clearly defined, offering customers more structured support than when piecing together separate tickets on their own.
While specific frequent flyer earning and redemption options are not part of the initial interline phase, both airlines have indicated that they intend to deepen integration over time. That could eventually see perks such as reciprocal mileage accrual, status recognition and priority services introduced for loyal customers of each carrier.
Strategic Significance for Air Canada and Pegasus
For Air Canada, the tie-up fits within a wider strategy to connect Canada with high-growth international markets through a mix of non-stop flights and partnerships. The airline already operates seasonal and year-round services to Europe and beyond, and Türkiye has emerged as a particularly attractive market thanks to its blend of tourism, diaspora traffic and business travel.
By partnering with Pegasus instead of adding its own flights deeper into Türkiye, Air Canada can tap into an existing low-cost network without committing aircraft and crews to new point-to-point routes. This asset-light approach allows the carrier to gauge demand and refine schedules while preserving flexibility in how it deploys capacity across its global network.
For Pegasus, the interline deal is an opportunity to elevate its profile in North America and strengthen its role as a bridge between Europe and Türkiye. The airline, which has built its brand as one of Türkiye’s leading low-cost carriers, gains access to passengers originating in major Canadian cities who may not have previously considered connecting onto a budget airline for the final leg of their journey.
The partnership also underscores Pegasus’s broader ambition to expand its international footprint while maintaining its low-cost model. By aligning with a full-service global carrier such as Air Canada, Pegasus can increase feed into its flights without fundamentally changing its product, relying instead on coordinated schedules and ground handling to deliver a smoother experience.
Boost for Tourism and Trade Between Canada and Türkiye
The alliance is expected to deliver a measurable boost to leisure and business flows between the two countries. Türkiye continues to rank as a top long-haul destination for Canadian travelers, thanks to Istanbul’s historic appeal, the beaches and resorts along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, and a growing interest in cultural and culinary tourism.
Improved connectivity via multiple European hubs should make it easier for Canadians from a wider range of cities to access Turkish destinations beyond Istanbul, particularly Izmir and the surrounding coastal region. For travel agencies and tour operators, the ability to package seamless Air Canada and Pegasus itineraries simplifies the task of building holidays that include both European stopovers and extended stays in Türkiye.
On the trade side, better passenger connectivity often goes hand in hand with increased business travel and cargo flows. While the interline agreement is focused on passenger services, the frequency and reliability of flights between Canada, Europe and Türkiye can make it more attractive for companies to pursue commercial ties, attend trade fairs and support investment projects across the two markets.
Tourism boards and airport authorities in both countries are likely to welcome the announcement, viewing it as a cost-effective way to widen route networks without waiting for entirely new non-stop services to be launched. The agreement may also spur competition, prompting other carriers to refresh their own offerings on the Canada Türkiye corridor.
What Travelers Should Know Before Booking
Although the new interline partnership aims to make journeys smoother, travelers should pay close attention to a few practical details when planning trips that combine Air Canada and Pegasus flights. Schedules may vary by season, and certain routes between European hubs and Türkiye can be more heavily loaded during peak holiday periods, so early booking remains advisable.
Passengers should also be aware that service standards can differ between a full-service airline and a low-cost carrier. While the ticket is issued as a single itinerary, onboard products such as catering, seat selection and baggage allowances are governed by each airline’s own policies, especially on the Pegasus segments. Checking fare rules at the time of purchase can help avoid surprises at the airport.
Connection times at European hubs are another consideration. The interline framework provides guidance on minimum connection windows, but travelers may prefer longer layovers if they are unfamiliar with a particular airport or traveling with young children. Building in a buffer can reduce stress and ensure a smoother start to holidays in Türkiye.
Finally, as with any international trip involving multiple jurisdictions, travelers should verify entry and transit requirements for all countries on their itinerary. While most Canadians will remain airside during European transfer points, rules on passports, visas and security checks can change, and staying informed is essential to ensure a hassle-free journey.
Next Steps: Toward Codeshare and Loyalty Integration
Both airlines have signaled that the interline agreement is only the first phase of their cooperation. In official statements, executives from Air Canada and Pegasus have expressed interest in evolving the partnership into a full codeshare arrangement, which would allow each carrier to place its flight code on the other’s services across the shared network.
A codeshare would deepen commercial ties and could lead to greater alignment of schedules, marketing and pricing, making the joint offering more visible to travelers. It would also likely pave the way for a more integrated approach to frequent flyer benefits, including reciprocal mileage earning and redemption opportunities.
For passengers, such developments would mean a more unified experience, especially for those who travel frequently between Canada and Türkiye or who use European gateways as launching points for broader itineraries. Loyalty program members might gain access to additional routes on which they can earn or spend points, as well as enhanced recognition across both airlines’ networks.
While no firm timeline has been announced, the momentum behind the deal and the strategic logic for both sides suggest that closer cooperation is likely. In the meantime, the newly launched interline agreement already marks a significant expansion of options for travelers seeking flexible, single-ticket journeys linking Canada, Europe and Türkiye.