The Turkish low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft in continuous expansion of its fleet with new generation engine aircraft. The new Airbus A321neo is named Cumhuriyet (‘Republic’) in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye.

Bearing the tail sign TC-RDP, it completed its inaugural journey from Hamburg, Germany, landing at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport on Saturday, 30 September 2023.

Mehmet T Nane, Chairperson of the board at Pegasus Airlines, and Guliz Ozturk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, took delivery of the aircraft at the Airbus facilities in Hamburg, Germany.

The aircraft was specially designed to pay tribute to the centenary of the Turkish Republic, featuring the silhouette and signature of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on its tail.

Cumhuriyet is the ninth of the 16 new aircraft scheduled to join the Pegasus fleet in 2023, marking the 100th aircraft so far and the 75th aircraft to be delivered as part of the Airbus order signed in 2012, which, through additional agreements over the years was extended to a total of 150 aircraft.

Ozturk further said: "We've now reached our 100-aircraft milestone with our new A321neo aircraft, Cumhuriyet. We are taking strong steps into the future with an extensive international network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus, and across Turkiye from north to east to south and west. With our innovative, rational, principled, and responsible approach, we aim to be one of the industry’s leading low-cost airlines that streamlines air travel while offering affordable fares.

"We are committed to continuing the transformation that we started in Turkish aviation 18 years ago."

She emphasised that all aircraft deliveries from 2021 onward consist of A321neo aircraft, and the A321 is widely recognised in the industry as a game-changer, featuring a distinct configuration compared to standard short-to-medium range commercial aircraft. These aircraft offer more capacity through a longer fuselage while maintaining an operational process that aligns well with our current structure. TradeArabia News Service