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The skies over Europe are traversed by thousands of flights daily by large and small airline companies. Some of them are well known worldwide; others with less familiar brand recognition surprise people with the extent of their vast flight networks connecting primary, secondary, and even smaller airports across the continent and beyond. One of those airlines is a nifty operation called Pegasus. Named for the mythological winged horse, Pegasus Airlines is a Turkish company whose extensive flight network reaches from Norway to Kazakhstan, transporting holidaymakers and not a few business travellers to cities across Turkey, among the world’s most popular travel destinations.

One of the Pegasus network highlights is its nonstop flights to destinations in Turkey other than Istanbul. Flight PG1532 from London’s Stansted Airport to Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport is a perfect example. Air passengers who endure the madness of Heathrow as the norm for London arrivals and departures will be pleasantly surprised by the unexpected civility of Stansted Airport, located to the north of London and very convenient for travellers heading to places such as Cambridge or cities further north. Coming from London, Stansted is easily reached on the Stansted Express train from London’s Liverpool Street Station. For door-to-door service when travelling from Cambridge or other areas, the back seats of Cachet Cars‘ superbly comfortable luxury sedans provide massages on the go.

: Alacati’s Old Town pedestrian-only main street.

: Dining out, Mediterranean style.

Stansted was very quiet on a gloriously sunny November afternoon. No traffic was on the roads leading to the terminal or the check-in counter. The ultra-friendly Pegasus employee was a smiling welcome to a first experience with this airline. Security procedures were fast and easy, and the expansive terminal was as quiet as a library. Stansted is undoubtedly much busier at the height of the summer season, but the reward of offseason travel is reducing stress associated with crowds and fear of lateness. For those unfamiliar with Stansted, the terminal’s glass walls create a sense of spaciousness while allowing aircraft to be observed on the tarmac.

: Pegasus from Stansted nonstop to Izmir.

: Sakiz ice cream, a local specialty.

Following the calm prelude on departure from Stansted, the flight was similarly serene. Pegasus operates one-class aircraft in 3-3 configurations, meaning there is no official (or unofficial) Business Class on this Airbus A320 aircraft. Anyone who has flown within Europe knows that Business Class on almost all European airlines means Economy Class in the same 3-3 configuration with the middle seat left empty, so as far as comfort goes, there is no difference in the seat. Pegasus is a Turkish airline, and the nation’s famously attentive hospitality is also evident on board. Emergency-row seats give ample legroom for the approximately three and a half hours on board before touching down in Izmir in the southwest of Turkey. Compared to the departure from Stansted, arrival at Izmir’s Adnan Menderes International Airport was similarly unstressful. Immigration was quick, and baggage was already on the carousel by the (short) time it took to be stamped into the country.

Pegasus Airlines

A pre-arranged ride had the driver waiting in the Arrivals hall before being whisked in privacy and comfort to the charming Bey Evi guesthouse in chic Alaçati, a tiny village on the Çesme peninsula where wealthy residents of Istanbul seek escape from urban busyness. This part of Turkey is one of the most popular destinations for holidaymakers; it is convenient to fly directly here on a nonstop flight.