Turkey’s leading low-cost carriers Pegasus Airlines’ CEO Mehmet Nane gave a keynote interview as part of Global LCC Leaders forum at this year’s Aviation Festival at London’s Business Design Centre on 9 September.

 Highlighting the airline’s steady growth and increasing guest numbers in 2016, Nane said: “Despite the challenging conditions of 2016, we are on target to surpass our 2015 guest traffic of 22.3 million to reach over 24 million in 2016. One of our core advantages is our agility which means we are well placed to respond to changing market conditions and continue growing as a network Low Cost Carrier connecting continents from the North to the South, East to the West.”

 Commenting on the airline’s fleet strategy and the delivery of their new Airbus A320neo from the 100 aircraft order in July this year, Mehmet Nane said: “We are on track to receive 7 more A320neo Airbus aircraft by the end of the year with 3 more scheduled for next year, delivering a 15% increase in efficiency and subsequent dual reduction in both emissions and our CASK”.

 Pegasus Airlines today flies to 102destinations in 40 countries, with growth that continues in 2016:  In the first seven months of this year Pegasus’ total guest traffic grew by 8.8% year-on-year to reach 13.46 million. In the first six months of 2016 Pegasus’ guest numbers for UK routes also registered an increase of 24.1% compared to the same period in 2015.  Pegasus Airlines provides low cost and easy connections across its network that expands across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia with one of Europe’s youngest fleets of 76 aircraft at an average age of 5.4 years.