Pegasus Airlines has announced direct flights between Istanbul and Bilbao, expanding its European network to connect Türkiye’s largest city with Spain’s Basque Country.
The first flight will operate on 1 December and is among the first low-cost options between the two destinations, with fares from €69.99. The new route is part of Pegasus’s expansion strategy in Western Europe, adding another cultural and business centre to its growing list of destinations. Flights operate from Pegasus’s base at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Bilbao Airport (BIO) on Spain’s northern coast, a region famous for its food, architecture and art.
Tickets can be booked on the Pegasus website and mobile app, and the early discounted fares have already sold out.
Connecting Istanbul with Spain’s Basque Country
The new route strengthens Pegasus’s presence in Spain, adding another destination alongside its current flights to Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. Adding Bilbao — described as northern Spain’s cultural gateway — makes one of Europe’s most dynamic tourism and business regions easier to reach.
Home to the Guggenheim Museum and famous for its outstanding cuisine, Bilbao is now one of Europe’s cultural tourism hubs. Pegasus said the route could attract Turkish travellers seeking new cultural destinations and encourage Spanish tourists to visit Türkiye’s historic and leisure attractions. According to aviation experts, it will also appeal to transit passengers from the Middle East and Asia travelling via the Pegasus network.
The flight operates direct from Sabiha Gökçen, with a flight time of about 4 hours 30 minutes. According to the announced schedule, flights depart Istanbul mid-morning and arrive in Bilbao in the afternoon.
