AJet is coming to Romania: direct flights to Istanbul from Iași and Bucharest.

Romania’s aviation market is getting a new player in 2026. AJet, the low-cost subsidiary of Turkish Airlines (formerly known as AnadoluJet), has officially announced its entry into two Romanian airports, marking what appears to be the most ambitious expansion by a Turkish carrier into the local market in recent years.

A new option for Moldova

The most anticipated news is for passengers in the northeast of the country: starting May 29, 2026, AJet will operate direct flights between Iași and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, with two weekly frequencies - Tuesday and Sunday.

The flight schedule is structured as follows:

• On Tuesdays, the aircraft departs from Istanbul at 14:55 and arrives in Iași.
• On Sundays, departure from Iași to Istanbul is scheduled for 17:35 (local times).

Fares start from 167 Romanian lei one-way, and tickets are already available on the airline’s website.

AJet thus becomes the first new airline announced in 2026 at Iași International Airport, a detail proudly highlighted by the airport’s management.

“This route represents a new opportunity for passengers from Iași and the surrounding region, offering a direct connection to one of the most dynamic and attractive cities,” said Romeo Vatră, General Director of Iași Airport.

Increasing competition on the Istanbul route

AJet’s entry turns Istanbul into one of the most competitive destinations from Iași. In summer 2026, passengers will be able to choose between three different airlines on this route:

• Wizz Air
• Animawings
• AJet

This competition should theoretically help keep ticket prices at an affordable level.

AJet operates a mixed fleet. Alongside the Boeing 737 aircraft that dominate its base at Sabiha Gökçen, the airline also flies Airbus A320neo and Airbus A321neo aircraft.

On January 25, 2026, AJet became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), strengthening its position on the international aviation stage.

Bucharest - Ankara: a route without competition

Beyond Iași, AJet has also scheduled a route from Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest to Ankara, the capital of Turkey - a route that, surprisingly, is currently not operated by any other airline.

Previously, Pegasus Airlines served this destination but redirected its capacity toward the Bucharest – Antalya and Bucharest – Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport routes.

The first Bucharest–Ankara flight is scheduled for April 2, 2026, with three weekly frequencies (Monday, Thursday, and Saturday).

A test or a long-term strategy?

There is also a more nuanced interpretation of this move. It is known that Turkish Airlines had previously tested the Iași market before sending AJet, its younger and more flexible subsidiary.

This model is not new in aviation: a low-cost sub-brand enters a market first, tests demand, and if the numbers look good, the parent airline follows. If this scenario proves true, Iași could eventually gain direct access to the global network of Turkish Airlines, one of the most extensive in the world.

Kerem Sarp, CEO of AJet, stated: “We are constantly expanding our international network, from Europe to the Caucasus and from the Middle East to North Africa. Iași, a city with important historical and cultural significance, is now joining our network.”

At the time of publication, the only regular AJet route from Romania was Bucharest – Bodrum. With the spring launches, the airline will operate three Romanian routes, a clear signal that Romania has firmly entered the expansion map of the Turkish Airlines Group.