Turkey’s air travel network has been hit by a fresh wave of disruption after low cost carrier Pegasus Airlines canceled 2 flights and delayed more than 100 services, straining operations at Istanbul and Antalya’s key airports and unsettling travel plans at the height of the winter season. The latest operational setback, driven largely by challenging weather and congestion across regional airspace, underscores how quickly conditions can deteriorate for travelers moving through some of the country’s busiest hubs.

A Sudden Jolt to Turkey’s Winter Travel Season

The latest service disruption involving Pegasus Airlines unfolded against a backdrop of already heightened volatility in flight schedules across Europe and Asia. In recent days, airports in Istanbul and Antalya have experienced mounting delays, with Pegasus contributing a significant share of late departures and arrivals as its dense network across Turkey and beyond came under pressure.

On the day of the disruption, Pegasus confirmed the cancellation of two flights while more than 100 others were delayed, affecting both domestic and international routes. While this may appear limited in raw numbers compared with large scale regional weather events, the impact on passenger flows was considerable, because many of the delayed flights were concentrated at peak travel periods, creating ripple effects across subsequent rotations and onward connections.

The knock on effects were particularly evident at major hubs that already operate close to capacity. Even short delays can quickly cascade into widespread disruption, making it difficult for airlines to return operations to normal without schedule trimming, aircraft swaps, or crew reassignments.

Key Airports Bearing the Brunt: Istanbul and Antalya

The disruption was most visible at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Antalya Airport, both critical to Pegasus Airlines’ network. Sabiha Gökçen serves as Pegasus’s primary base and handles a dense portfolio of short and medium haul flights that connect Turkey to Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Any operational turbulence at this airport is quickly felt across the airline’s network, particularly on domestic links that feed international services.

Antalya Airport, Turkey’s Mediterranean gateway, has also been under strain, with a combination of winter holiday traffic and weather related delays pushing runway and terminal capacity to their limits. While Antalya is more widely associated with summer tourism, its role as a year round hub has grown, and Pegasus has increased frequencies to and from the city in response to demand from both domestic travelers and international visitors seeking milder coastal conditions.

As delays accumulated, passengers at both airports reported longer than usual queues for check in, security, and boarding, as well as congestion at arrival halls where late incoming flights overlapped with new departure waves. Ground operations teams at Istanbul and Antalya were forced to juggle gate assignments and turnaround times, while air traffic control units managed tighter spacing on already busy approach and departure paths.

These conditions highlighted how closely linked Turkey’s main airports have become. Disruption at Sabiha Gökçen not only affects local departures and arrivals but can also disturb schedules at Antalya, Ankara, Izmir, and regional airports that rely on tightly timed domestic connections.

Weather, Congestion, and a Region Under Strain

The Pegasus disruption did not occur in isolation. It came as airports across Europe and Asia were grappling with widespread delays and cancellations attributed to severe weather systems, winter storms, and knock on operational constraints. In recent days, thousands of flights across multiple countries, from Thailand and Japan to major European hubs, have been delayed or canceled, with Turkey’s airports among those affected.

In Istanbul, authorities and airlines have been closely monitoring forecasts of heavy snowfall and strong winds that periodically affect the city each winter. When such conditions coincide with peak traffic periods, airlines often implement preemptive schedule reductions, both to maintain safety and to prevent more chaotic last minute cancellations. Turkish carriers, including Pegasus, have previously cut portions of their schedules at Istanbul’s airports in response to official directives or airport capacity constraints tied to weather.

This broader regional context matters for Pegasus. As a carrier heavily reliant on high aircraft utilization and quick turnarounds, any disruption at a partner airport or in regional airspace can quickly upset the balance. Holding patterns, diversions, and de icing operations add minutes or hours to rotations, pushing departure times further back and making it difficult to maintain on time performance even when conditions at the origin or destination appear manageable.

Impact on Passengers: Missed Connections and Frayed Itineraries

For travelers, the immediate consequences of Pegasus’s cancellations and widespread delays were felt in missed connections, extended airport waits, and frustrated attempts to rebook itineraries that often involved multiple carriers. Many passengers moving through Istanbul and Antalya were relying on Pegasus’s domestic network to connect to long haul services operated by other airlines, or vice versa, which made schedule disruptions particularly damaging.

Some travelers faced overnight stays or long layovers as their original same day connections became impossible. Those on short weekend breaks or business trips saw entire itineraries compressed or rendered unworkable. Families traveling with children, as well as elderly travelers, were especially vulnerable to the accumulated discomfort of delayed departures and crowded terminals.

Travel planners and tour operators reported increased call volumes from clients seeking alternatives, particularly for routes connecting European cities with Turkey’s coastal resorts. In some cases, passengers shifted to other carriers or rebooked for later dates, while others opted to cancel trips outright, prioritizing predictability over immediate travel.

Beyond the practical inconvenience, the episode served as a reminder of the emotional toll that travel disruption can bring. Anxiety over missed events, lost hotel nights, or interrupted work plans often compounds the stress of navigating crowded airports and uncertain information channels.

How Pegasus and Airports Are Responding

In the wake of the cancellations and delays, Pegasus Airlines moved to stabilize its operation by adjusting rotations, prioritizing core domestic routes, and coordinating closely with airport authorities. Efforts focused on returning aircraft and crews to their planned positions as quickly as possible so subsequent days’ schedules could run with fewer interruptions.

At Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Antalya, airport management teams worked with airlines to optimize gate usage, improve passenger flow, and mitigate bottlenecks. Operational control centers monitored runway conditions, air traffic movements, and weather forecasts in real time, allowing for dynamic decisions on departure sequences, arrival spacing, and, when necessary, ground holds.

Airlines, including Pegasus, also encouraged passengers to use digital channels to track live flight status and receive notifications, reducing pressure on in person customer service desks. While such measures cannot eliminate the frustration of disrupted travel, they can help travelers make more informed decisions about when to arrive at the airport, whether to adjust ground transport, and what options exist for rebooking.

In parallel, Turkish aviation regulators have continued to refine seasonal capacity management policies at major airports, particularly around anticipated weather events. Temporary reductions in scheduled flights during risk periods are aimed at preserving safety margins and preventing more chaotic, last minute cancellations that leave passengers with few alternatives.

What Travelers Should Do If Their Pegasus Flight Is Affected

For travelers already booked on Pegasus flights to or from Istanbul and Antalya, the current disruption highlights the importance of proactive planning. Passengers should monitor their flight status regularly through the airline’s official channels in the 24 hours before departure, and again on the day of travel, as schedules can change with relatively short notice during volatile weather periods.

Arriving at the airport earlier than usual, particularly for international flights, may provide additional flexibility if check in counters or security lanes are congested. Travelers with tight connections, especially those combining Pegasus with another carrier on separate tickets, should consider building in larger buffers between flights or exploring through ticket options that offer greater protection in case of delay.

For those whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed, understanding basic passenger rights and airline policies can help when negotiating alternatives. Depending on the route, jurisdiction, and circumstances, travelers may have access to rebooking, refunds, or, in some cases, additional support such as meals or accommodation. Keeping all travel receipts and documenting the disruption can be useful later if compensation or insurance claims are pursued.

Travel insurance that includes coverage for delays and cancellations can provide an added layer of security, particularly for complex or high value itineraries. Policies vary widely, so passengers should review terms before travel to know what support might be available if strong weather systems or operational setbacks recur.

Implications for Turkey’s Broader Tourism and Aviation Outlook

The turbulence in Pegasus’s schedule comes at a sensitive moment for Turkey’s tourism and aviation sectors. The country has been working to consolidate strong visitor numbers, leveraging both Istanbul’s growing status as a global hub and Antalya’s continued appeal as a year round destination. Reliable air connectivity is central to this strategy, and any sign of fragility in the system draws attention from travelers and industry partners alike.

At the same time, isolated episodes of disruption must be viewed in context. Airlines operating high density, short haul networks through congested hubs face inherent operational challenges, especially in winter. Pegasus has, in recent years, worked to improve its overall on time performance and reduce cancellations, even as it has navigated airspace constraints, competitive pressures, and fluctuating travel demand.

For travelers, Turkey remains an accessible and attractive destination, with multiple carriers and routes offering redundancy when individual airlines face difficulties. However, the events surrounding Pegasus’s recent cancellations and delays serve as a timely reminder that flexibility, contingency planning, and realistic expectations are important components of modern air travel, particularly in the colder months.

In the medium term, investments in airport infrastructure, air traffic management, and airline operational resilience are likely to play a key role in reducing the frequency and severity of such disruptions. Enhanced coordination between carriers and regulators, and more sophisticated use of data to anticipate pressure points, may also help maintain smoother passenger journeys even when weather and external factors are less cooperative.

The Takeaway

The cancellation of two Pegasus Airlines flights and the delay of more than 100 services across Istanbul and Antalya underline how quickly conditions can shift for travelers relying on Turkey’s busy air corridors. Concentrated at major hubs where aircraft and crew utilization is intense, the disruption created a cascade of missed connections, extended waits, and logistical headaches for passengers and operators alike.

Yet this episode also reflects a broader pattern across the region, where winter weather, congested airspace, and tight schedules have combined to test the resilience of airlines and airports. Pegasus, like its peers, is operating within a complex ecosystem in which even limited schedule adjustments can have outsized impacts on the passenger experience.

For travelers, the lesson is clear. When flying through Istanbul, Antalya, or other busy regional hubs during the winter season, it pays to stay informed, allow extra margin in itineraries, and understand the options available if plans are disrupted. Turkey’s aviation network remains robust and well connected, but as this latest setback shows, even resilient systems are vulnerable when nature and operational pressures collide.

FAQ

Q1: Which airports in Turkey were most affected by the recent Pegasus disruptions?
Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Antalya Airport experienced the greatest impact, as both are key hubs in Pegasus Airlines’ network and handle a high volume of domestic and international flights.

Q2: How many Pegasus flights were canceled and delayed?
On the day of the disruption, Pegasus Airlines canceled 2 flights and delayed more than 100 services, affecting a mix of domestic and international routes linked to Istanbul and Antalya.

Q3: What were the main causes behind the cancellations and delays?
The disruption was largely driven by challenging winter weather conditions, regional airspace congestion, and the knock on effects of earlier delays, which together placed significant strain on Pegasus’s tightly scheduled operations.

Q4: How did the delays affect passengers traveling through Istanbul and Antalya?
Many travelers faced missed connections, extended waiting times at airports, and the need to rebook flights. Some passengers required overnight stays or significant changes to their itineraries, particularly those relying on tight domestic to international connections.

Q5: What steps is Pegasus Airlines taking to stabilize its operations?
Pegasus has been adjusting aircraft rotations, prioritizing core routes, coordinating with airport authorities, and using real time data to manage schedules and crew assignments in order to bring operations back to normal as quickly as possible.

Q6: What should I do if my Pegasus flight from Istanbul or Antalya is delayed or canceled?
You should monitor your flight status closely through official airline channels, arrive early at the airport, check available rebooking or refund options, and keep all documents and receipts if you intend to pursue compensation or insurance claims.

Q7: Are passengers entitled to compensation for these disruptions?
Eligibility for compensation depends on the route, jurisdiction, and cause of disruption. In some cases of significant delay or short notice cancellation, travelers may be entitled to reimbursement or compensation, although severe weather and other extraordinary circumstances can limit these rights.

Q8: How can travelers reduce the risk of missed connections during such disruptions?
Building longer connection times into itineraries, choosing through tickets on a single booking, and avoiding very tight transfers during winter months can all help reduce the risk of missed onward flights when delays occur.

Q9: Does this incident mean Turkey is becoming an unreliable destination for air travel?
No. While the disruption is significant for affected passengers, Turkey’s airports and airlines continue to offer extensive connectivity. However, as with many regions, winter weather and congestion can occasionally create temporary instability in schedules.

Q10: Is it still advisable to travel through Istanbul and Antalya during the winter season?
Yes, provided travelers remain flexible and well informed. Checking forecasts, monitoring flight status, allowing extra time, and considering travel insurance can help ensure that journeys through Istanbul, Antalya, and other Turkish hubs remain manageable even when conditions are challenging.