Turkey’s leading low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines increased traffic volume by 22.6% for the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period last year.

Pegasus Airlines has added Doha and Athens to its roster of destinations, open for booking now. The development means the Turkish airline now flies to 71 destinations in 29 countries, and brings the number of its international routes to 42.

Pegasus is planning to open up its shares to the public, according to the company. Turkey’s largest private air carrier applied to the Capital Markets Board for a public offering earlier, with the shares expected to be opened either this year or early next year.

Turkey’s best-known low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has continued to expand its international flight network with a new flight to Dubai, making it Pegasus’ 58th. Booking is open now for the four-times-a-week flights from London Stansted via Istanbul which start on October 18th. The announcement was made during the Routes 2012 forum in Abu Dhabi.

Pegasus Airlines’ network extends to 57 destinations worldwide, with its second destination in Georgia: the seaside town of Batumi; and Lviv, the third destination in Ukraine Pegasus continues to expand its flight network both within Turkey and internationally. Georgia’s Black Sea coastal town of Batumi; and Lviv, our third Ukrainian destination after Kharkiv and Donetsk, will be introduced in October.

Pegasus Airlines has signed a partnership agreement with global online hotel reservations service Booking.com. Pegasus guests who visit the airline’s website can now access and make bookings in more than 135,000 affordable hotels in 101 countries around the world.