Pegasus Airlines has announced it will start a new service from Birmingham to Istanbul from next month.

Starting from 21 December, the Turkish airline will fly three times a week to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International, with one-way fares starting from £39.99. The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The low-cost carrier flies to 130 destinations in 49 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe from its hub in Istanbul.

Birmingham Airport CEO Nick Barton said: “We are very pleased to welcome Pegasus Airlines into the Birmingham fold. Pegasus is a very impressive low-cost carrier whose commitment to sustainable long-term growth is matched by our own here at Birmingham Airport.

“I have no doubt these new services to SAW (Istanbul) will be very popular with sunseekers, pilgrims, business travellers and people going to see family both in Turkey and across the vast array of destinations offered by Pegasus’s strong onwards network covering Asia, Europe and Africa.”