Pegasus Airlines opens Istanbul MRO shop

Pegasus Airlines has significantly increased its technical maintenance capacity and capabilities by opening its new aircraft maintenance centre at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. With an infrastructure based on digitalisation, efficiency and sustainability, the hangars will offer simultaneous maintenance to five narrow-body aircraft, thereby significantly increasing the company’s operational strength. With an initial investment of USD 40 million, Pegasus aims to optimise time and resources in maintenance processes, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce maintenance-related aircraft downtime.  The project, which commenced in January 2025, has been completed within a year. In this initial phase, two maintenance hangars capable of providing line and base maintenance for five narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, as well as one paint hangar, have been put into operation. In the second phase, to be completed in the last quarter of 2026, an additional hangar providing base maintenance for five more narrow-body aircraft will become operational. In the third phase, planned to start within 4-5 years, this hangar will be expanded to accommodate ten narrow-body aircraft, marking the completion of the aircraft maintenance centre investment. These first-phase hangars, which bring line and base maintenance activities together under one roof, have been designed to support a comprehensive range of technical operations. These include line maintenance, engine and landing gear replacements, avionics and structural modifications, base maintenance procedures, full aircraft painting and livery design and coating, as well as component maintenance and training activities. Commenting on the investment, Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk said: “Every investment we make in technical infrastructure takes our operational strength one step further. Our aircraft maintenance centre investment at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is a strategic milestone in Pegasus’ sustainable growth journey. Our new hangars will not only enable us to manage the maintenance needs of our growing fleet more effectively, but also accelerate our transformation focused on digitalisation and efficiency. By managing our aircraft maintenance processes more quickly and in a more optimised way, we aim to provide our guests with an ever more seamless travel experience.” Capable of servicing five narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, these hangars are equipped to accommodate all narrow-body aircraft types, with authorisation for Boeing 737 NG and Airbus A320/A321 family CEO and NEO models. Located within 18,000 square metres of enclosed space and supported by a 25,000 square metre apron area, the facility is strategically positioned at the transition point between the two runways of Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The first-phase hangars, implemented with an investment of approximately USD 40 million, will not only increase technical capacity but also create additional employment for around 200 people.  The facility will primarily serve Pegasus’ growing fleet; in the future, depending on capacity availability, it will also be able to accommodate aircraft belonging to other airlines. The hangar also represents an important pillar of Pegasus’ digital maintenance and sustainability vision. Processes will operate more quickly and efficiently thanks to practices such as paperless maintenance processes, a digital warehouse and tool management system, unmanned Personal Protective Equipment dispensers, and AI-supported occupational health solutions. Preventive maintenance activities and data analytics systems enable maintenance needs to be anticipated in advance, supporting uninterrupted operations. In terms of sustainability, an infrastructure focused on energy efficiency and waste management was chosen for the hangar construction. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]