Pegasus under scrutiny after Feb 8 delays at Antalya and Sabiha Gökçen

Pegasus Airlines experienced a disruption on 8 February with over 100 delays and two cancellations affecting Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Antalya. Attention on 11 February is on first-wave on-time performance and aircraft positioning to prevent knock-on delays. Extended ground time, rebooking, and higher crew and fuel costs are highlighted. For UK departures, UK261 may trigger compensation in qualifying cases. Travelers are advised to monitor flight status via airline apps and keep transfer plans flexible.

Pegasus Airlines’ operations came under pressure on 8 February, when more than 100 delays and two cancellations were recorded across Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Antalya airports. Stakeholders are watching performance closely on 11 February to see if the operation stabilizes after the earlier disruption.

Operational focus is on first-wave on-time performance at both airports. A punctual start reduces knock-on effects by keeping aircraft rotations on schedule, helping to manage crew duty times, fuel usage from extended taxiing, and customer care costs. Aircraft-in-position and sufficient, well-rested crew buffers are also key. If these buffers are thin, a single late inbound can propagate wider delays across the network.

The article highlights the financial impact of prolonged delays, including higher handling and navigation charges, possible rebooking costs, and increased crew and fuel expenses. For flights departing the UK, regulations under UK261 could require compensation of up to £350 per passenger for eligible delays, in addition to duty-of-care provisions such as meals or accommodation when applicable.

Two short-term paths are outlined. If the first departure wave holds on time and aircraft remain correctly positioned, residual backlog could clear within one or two rotations, supporting near‑term margins. If delays continue into the end of the week and the upcoming half‑term period, Pegasus may need to adjust buffers or trim schedules, which could weigh on winter margins.

Passengers are advised to keep a close eye on flight status updates and use airline apps for real-time changes. Building flexibility into transfer plans can help manage potential schedule shifts while operations normalize.