SunExpress
A Turkish-German joint-venture airline focused on leisure travel, international routes, domestic Turkish connectivity, and aircraft wet leasing.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
SunExpress is a Turkish airline headquartered in Antalya and jointly owned by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. Established in October 1989, it was created to combine Turkish Airlines’ local market knowledge and network with Lufthansa’s international aviation experience. The company began flying in 1990 and developed around tourism-oriented traffic linking Turkey with European source markets. The airline’s commercial identity is closely associated with leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel. Its network connects Turkish resort regions and major cities with destinations in Europe and selected markets around the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, North Africa, Western Asia, and Central Asia. It also serves domestic Turkish demand, particularly routes connecting western and southern Turkey with cities in Anatolia. In addition to scheduled passenger services, SunExpress operates chartered passenger flights and has participated in wet-leasing activities, giving it a broader role than a narrowly defined holiday airline. A significant early milestone came in 2001, when SunExpress operated an Antalya–Frankfurt service and became the first private airline in Turkey to offer international scheduled flights. Germany has remained an important market for the airline, reflecting both the scale of tourism between Germany and Turkey and the large Turkish diaspora in Germany. In 2006, the company opened a second base in Izmir and began domestic operations. The Izmir expansion was notable because it created direct links between Izmir and Anatolian cities, rather than relying only on connections through Istanbul or other major hubs. SunExpress renewed its visual identity in 2010, introducing a new logo, aircraft livery, corporate colors, uniforms, and related brand elements. In 2011, it established SunExpress Deutschland, a German-registered subsidiary intended to operate services from Germany to Turkish and other holiday destinations. SunExpress Deutschland ceased operations and entered liquidation after an announcement in June 2020; parts of its route network were subsequently assigned to SunExpress and Eurowings. The airline operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet according to the cited fleet information and maintains cooperation with other carriers through codeshare and interline arrangements. Its listed codeshare partners include Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, and TUI Airways. Interline relationships have included Air Canada, Azerbaijan Airlines, Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. SunExpress expanded its Turkish domestic and regional footprint further with the launch of scheduled service between Izmir and Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus in October 2023. The inaugural flight carried 118 passengers and took place around the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. The route was announced as operating four weekly round trips. Overall, SunExpress occupies a specialist position between a leisure carrier, a regional international airline, and a Turkish domestic operator, with a network designed around tourism flows, diaspora travel, and point-to-point connectivity rather than a traditional global hub model.
History
SunExpress was formed in Antalya in October 1989 as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. The partnership gave the new airline a distinctive foundation: it was Turkish in origin and market focus, but supported by the international aviation expertise of a major European carrier. SunExpress began flying in 1990 and initially developed around the movement of tourists between Turkey and European markets. The company’s importance in the Turkish aviation market grew with its expansion into scheduled international services. In 2001, it operated its first Antalya–Frankfurt flight and became the first private airline in Turkey to offer international scheduled flights. This development strengthened the company’s role in the large Turkey–Germany travel market, which combines holiday traffic, family visits, and business travel. In 2006, SunExpress expanded beyond its Antalya base by establishing a second base in Izmir. It also began domestic flights, including direct services from Izmir to Anatolian cities. The move broadened the airline’s role from a predominantly international leisure operator into a carrier serving domestic regional connectivity as well. Izmir provided an important western Turkish base close to the Aegean tourism market. The airline modernized its public identity in 2010. Alongside the arrival of the first of six newly purchased Boeing 737-800 aircraft, SunExpress introduced a redesigned logo, aircraft livery, corporate color scheme, uniforms, and other brand elements. The refresh accompanied a period of network and fleet development and helped establish a more consistent identity across its growing operation. SunExpress Deutschland was founded in 2011 and began operations in June of that year. Operating with German registration, the subsidiary served Turkish destinations on the southern coast, Aegean, Black Sea, and eastern parts of the country, while also covering destinations in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, North Africa, and Red Sea regions. The subsidiary was later wound down. On 23 June 2020, it was announced that SunExpress Deutschland would cease operations and be liquidated, with parts of its route network transferred to SunExpress and Eurowings. SunExpress has continued to combine scheduled and chartered passenger flying with a tourism-oriented network. Its activities have also included wet leasing. The airline maintains commercial links with other carriers through codeshare and interline agreements, improving access to connecting traffic while retaining a largely point-to-point operating model. Cited codeshare partners include Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, and TUI Airways. Cited interline partners include Air Canada, Azerbaijan Airlines, Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. A further network development occurred in October 2023, when SunExpress inaugurated service from Izmir to Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus. The first flight carried 118 passengers and was timed to coincide with the centenary of the Republic of Turkey. The announced schedule comprised four weekly round trips. The route illustrated SunExpress’s continuing emphasis on direct regional links from Turkish bases. According to the cited reference material, SunExpress operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet and serves a broad set of markets spanning Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Red Sea, Western Asia, and Central Asia. The airline’s identity remains centered on affordable and convenient access to Turkish holiday destinations, while its domestic network, partnerships, and wet-leasing activities give it a wider operational profile.
- 2023
Izmir–Ercan route inaugurated
[1]SunExpress operates its inaugural service from Izmir to Ercan Airport with 118 passengers and announces four weekly round trips.
- 2020
SunExpress Deutschland is wound down
[1]The subsidiary is announced for closure and liquidation, with portions of its network transferred to SunExpress and Eurowings.
- 2011
SunExpress Deutschland begins operations
[1]The German-registered subsidiary starts flying from Germany to Turkey and other leisure markets.
- 2010
Fleet and brand refresh
[1]SunExpress receives the first of six newly purchased Boeing 737-800 aircraft and unveils a new corporate identity.
- 2006
Izmir base and domestic network launch
[1]The airline opens its second base in Izmir and begins direct domestic links between Izmir and Anatolian cities.
- 2001
First international scheduled service by a Turkish private airline
[1]SunExpress launches its Antalya–Frankfurt route and becomes the first private airline in Turkey to offer international scheduled flights.
- 1990
First flight
[1]SunExpress begins commercial flying after its formation.
- 1989
SunExpress is founded in Antalya
[1]Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa establish SunExpress as a joint-venture airline in Antalya.
Products and positioning
A tourism-oriented Turkish-German airline offering point-to-point international and domestic services, with particular strength in Turkey–Europe travel.
Air transportation · 1990
Scheduled passenger flights
SunExpress operates scheduled point-to-point passenger services from Turkish bases to destinations across Europe and neighboring regions. The network is strongly oriented toward tourism, diaspora travel, and direct access to Turkish resort markets, while also including regional and domestic services.
Air transportation
Chartered passenger flights
Charter flying forms part of SunExpress’s tourism-oriented business. These services support organized holiday traffic and complement the airline’s scheduled network, particularly on routes connecting European departure markets with Turkish coastal destinations.
Air transportation · 2006
Domestic Turkish flights
Since its 2006 domestic expansion, SunExpress has connected Turkish cities beyond the main Istanbul-centered aviation system. Its Izmir-based domestic services were especially significant for providing direct access between the Aegean region and Anatolian cities.
Aviation services
Wet-leasing services
SunExpress also undertakes wet-leasing activities, supplying aircraft and operating capacity for other airlines or aviation partners. This gives the company an additional business line beyond selling seats under its own brand.
Brand decisions
2023
Launch of Izmir–Ercan serviceProduct launchBackground
SunExpress continued to develop direct regional links from Turkish bases and identified demand for a connection between Izmir and Northern Cyprus.
Action taken
The airline inaugurated service to Ercan Airport from Izmir and announced four weekly round trips.
Aftermath
The new route broadened SunExpress’s regional network and provided a direct connection between the Aegean city and Northern Cyprus.
2020
Closure and liquidation of SunExpress DeutschlandStrategyBackground
The German subsidiary’s operating structure was reviewed during a period of severe disruption in commercial aviation.
Action taken
SunExpress announced that SunExpress Deutschland would cease operations and be liquidated, while parts of its route network would move to SunExpress and Eurowings.
Aftermath
The group simplified its structure while preserving portions of the former subsidiary’s network through other operating entities.
2011
Creation of SunExpress DeutschlandStrategyBackground
Germany was a core market for Turkey-related tourism and diaspora travel, and a German-registered subsidiary could support operations from that market.
Action taken
SunExpress established SunExpress Deutschland, which began serving Turkey and other leisure destinations in June 2011.
Aftermath
The subsidiary operated for several years before its closure and liquidation were announced in 2020.
2010
Boeing 737-800 fleet acquisition and brand modernizationGeneration changeBackground
SunExpress was developing its network and needed a refreshed aircraft and brand platform for continued growth.
Action taken
The airline took delivery of the first of six newly purchased Boeing 737-800 aircraft and introduced a new visual identity across its logo, livery, uniforms, and corporate materials.
Aftermath
The initiative reinforced a consistent customer-facing identity and supported the airline’s continuing use of a Boeing 737-based operating model.
2006
Expansion into Izmir and domestic Turkish aviationStrategyBackground
SunExpress had historically been associated closely with Antalya and international tourism traffic. The company sought to broaden its Turkish footprint and improve direct regional connectivity.
Action taken
It opened a second base in Izmir and launched domestic flights linking Izmir with cities in Anatolia.
Aftermath
The decision expanded SunExpress beyond a primarily international leisure role and established Izmir as an important operating base.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
SunExpress updates its mobile app[3]
Reported:
SunExpress updated its mobile app, which offers passengers flight-related features including reservation management, notifications, mobile boarding passes, and access to in-flight entertainment.
SunExpress unveils VR experience with LEGO and Inflight VR[4]
Reported:
SunExpress unveiled an onboard virtual reality experience in collaboration with LEGO and Inflight VR, featuring a branded cabin environment and LEGO City VR movies.
SunExpress appoints strategy and transformation director[5]
Reported:
SunExpress named Armin Bovensiepen as its new director of strategy and transformation, beginning October 14, 2019.
Sources5 sources
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