SunExpress, Türkiye’s premier leisure airline and a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, is setting impressive benchmarks as it expands its network and fleet to meet the growing demand for travel to Türkiye. In 2024, SunExpress has already carried over 12 million passengers and introduced a remarkable 28 new routes for the summer season, reaching nearly last year’s full-year passenger count and marking a significant milestone in its commitment to boosting tourism and connectivity.

Achieving Milestones and Shaping Future Growth

At a recent press conference, CEO Dr. Max Kownatzki and Deputy General Manager Tuncay Eminoğlu announced SunExpress’s plans for the 2024 winter season and beyond. With an 87% seat load factor year-to-date, SunExpress is well on track to surpass its 2024 target of 15 million passengers. “Türkiye’s great value offering keeps demand high,” said Kownatzki, who attributed the increase to Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, diverse cuisine, and tourism-friendly initiatives by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Winter Network Expansion: Connecting Türkiye’s Heritage and Beauty Year-Round

SunExpress has launched 15 new routes for the winter, the largest winter network expansion in its history. These routes, both domestic and international, aim to meet rising demand for travel to Türkiye during the winter months. The new international routes include flights from Kayseri to Prague, Izmir to Rovaniemi, Izmir to Sharm El Sheikh, and Trabzon to Muscat. Domestically, SunExpress now connects Antalya with cities such as Bursa, Erzurum, and Şanlıurfa, and Izmir with destinations like Elazığ, Nevşehir, Sivas, and Şanlıurfa.

Kownatzki noted the significance of expanding domestic connections, highlighting the importance of supporting local tourism and boosting the national economy. The new routes enhance accessibility to Türkiye’s major cultural, trade, and tourism hubs, underscoring SunExpress’s role in strengthening Türkiye’s tourism sector throughout the year.

Focused Growth in Core Markets: Germany and the UK

SunExpress remains strongly focused on its core markets, especially the German-speaking DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), which has long been central to its operations. In addition, SunExpress is expanding in the UK market, where it plans to increase service to 11 destinations by 2025, up from the current 9. This strategic expansion aligns with the airline’s commitment to provide the most direct connections to Türkiye from major European markets, particularly to popular destinations on the Turkish Riviera and throughout Anatolia.

Ambitious Fleet Growth Strategy

The airline has also been recognized as “Europe’s Best Leisure Airline” in 2024 and continues to grow its fleet, adding 11 new aircraft this year to reach a total of 77. To further support its expansion, SunExpress is set to operate up to 85 aircraft in 2025, responding to the 17% increase in early bookings for the upcoming summer compared to 2024.Beyond this, SunExpress targets an impressive 100 aircraft by 2028, with an ultimate goal of 166 aircraft by 2035. This long-term growth strategy underpins SunExpress’s commitment to accommodating increasing passenger numbers and further establishing Türkiye as a global travel destination.

Looking Ahead: Workforce Expansion

The airline plans to expand its workforce by hiring approximately 800 new employees in 2025, including 170 pilots, 400 cabin crew members, and over 200 ground personnel. Female leadership representation has reached 24.6%, nearing IATA’s 25by2025 goal

SunExpress continues to soar, delivering exceptional service and expanding its reach across Europe and beyond.

As SunExpress broadens its footprint, it remains committed to its vision of elevating Türkiye as a global tourism hub. By expanding connections and increasing fleet capacity, SunExpress continues to serve as a bridge between Türkiye and international travelers, bringing the country’s natural wonders and cultural treasures closer to the world.

SunExpress Expands Italian Horizons with New Antalya-Milan Route

Starting from Summer 2024, SunExpress now offers a direct connection from Antalya to Milan—a valuable addition to its European route network. Following the success of the İzmir-Milan route, which has been operational since Summer 2022, this new flight provides travelers even more options to experience Italy’s cultural heartland.

Flight Frequencies for Summer 2024:

Antalya-Milan: Twice weekly, allowing flexible travel options from Turkey’s southern coast to Northern Italy.

İzmir-Milan: Operating three times a week, maintaining its popularity among travelers from Turkey’s Aegean region.

By continuously expanding its flight map, SunExpress is dedicated to bridging the distance between Turkey and Europe, facilitating leisure and business travel for an increasing number of passengers