SunExpress plans to operate 1,000 weekly flights to Antalya and Izmir during the 2026 summer season as it responds to growing demand for travel to Türkiye. The airline carried 6.3 million passengers during the first half of the year and expects to welcome around 4 million more travellers during July and August, reflecting stronger booking momentum ahead of the peak holiday period.
The carrier, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, has also launched 18 new routes for summer 2026. The expansion comes as demand for Türkiye continues to recover despite geopolitical uncertainty that briefly affected booking patterns earlier in the year.
According to SunExpress, geopolitical developments during the opening months of 2026 caused only a temporary slowdown in bookings. The airline said there has been no lasting decline in demand for Türkiye, with passenger numbers gaining momentum as travellers increasingly choose to book closer to their departure dates.
Germany, one of Türkiye’s largest inbound tourism markets, has played an important role in the recovery. SunExpress said the recent increase in short term bookings has helped strengthen passenger demand during the busiest weeks of the summer season.
Marcus Schnabel, CEO of SunExpress, said: “For more than 35 years, SunExpress has served as a tourism ambassador between Türkiye and Europe, contributing to the continued growth of Turkish tourism. Today, we are once again witnessing the remarkable resilience of Türkiye’s tourism industry. While demand for Türkiye remains steady, the changing factor has been booking patterns. Early bookings have increasingly been replaced by short term bookings. The recent acceleration in bookings is the clearest indication of this trend. Together with our industry stakeholders, we have managed short-term demand fluctuations with discipline while maintaining our long-term confidence in Türkiye’s tourism potential and future.”
The airline has expanded its network with 18 new routes connecting destinations across the Turkish Riviera and Anatolia with cities in Europe, the Balkans and Central Asia. New services include Antalya to Bratislava, Izmir to Podgorica, Bodrum to Tirana and Pristina, Ankara to Rotterdam, Edremit to Munich and Hanover, Hatay to Düsseldorf and Çukurova to Cologne.
SunExpress said it will operate approximately 800 weekly flights to Antalya and more than 250 weekly flights to Izmir throughout the summer season. The airline describes itself as the leading international carrier serving the Turkish Riviera and says the additional capacity will strengthen connectivity between the region and overseas markets.
Schnabel said: “We are the main carrier for Antalya and Izmir. As the airline operating the highest number of international flights to the Turkish Riviera, we are delighted to continue connecting this region with the world.”
The airline also highlighted its continued investment in Türkiye. In 2025, SunExpress ranked among the country’s three largest service exporters, generating $2.474 billion in foreign exchange revenue, an increase of 11% compared with the previous year.
Tuncay Eminoğlu, Deputy CEO of SunExpress, said: “In 2025, we continued contributing to Türkiye’s tourism industry and economy by maintaining our operational strength, extensive route network and focus on sustainable growth. We are proud to be among the leading companies in our country in services exports, generating $2.474 billion in foreign exchange inflow, representing an 11% increase compared to the previous year. This achievement is also a strong source of motivation as we continue supporting Türkiye’s position as a leading international tourism destination.”
SunExpress added four new Boeing 737-8 aircraft to its fleet in 2026 and plans to receive another 11 aircraft during 2027 as part of its fleet modernisation programme. The airline said the new generation aircraft will improve operational efficiency while enhancing the passenger experience.
The company is also investing in a new maintenance hangar in Antalya, a project that it says will support its long term growth strategy while contributing to the development of the region’s aviation infrastructure.
Looking ahead, SunExpress said it remains focused on becoming Türkiye’s leading leisure airline through continued investment, network expansion and closer cooperation with tourism partners.
Schnabel said: “For us, connecting people is about much more than linking two destinations; it is about bringing together cultures, people and opportunities. While maintaining our focus on reliability, customer experience and strong partnerships, we remain committed to investing in Türkiye’s tourism potential and the continued development of the aviation sector. We will continue advancing towards our ambition of becoming the leading leisure airline for Türkiye while creating value for our customers, colleagues and partners.”
