Max Kownatzki, CEO of SunExpress, will be appointed as the new CEO of Eurowings following the departure of Jens Bischof.
In a statement released by Eurowings on 11 December, it was announced that the current CEO, Jens Bischof—who has led the company for more than five years and has nearly 35 years of experience within the Lufthansa Group—will step down from his position. He will be succeeded by SunExpress CEO Max Kownatzki.
Before joining SunExpress in 2020, Kownatzki served as Chief Commercial Officer at Eurowings. Prior to returning to his career within the Lufthansa Group, he also held executive roles at the Australia-based Jetstar Group.
Led SunExpress Through the Pandemic
Kownatzki played a critical role in keeping SunExpress operational during the Covid-19 crisis. He oversaw the closure of the airline’s German division, reshaped its operational structure, and was instrumental in SunExpress achieving record results in 2024.
Farewell Message from Lufthansa
Michael Niggemann, member of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board, bid farewell to departing CEO Jens Bischof with high praise:
“Bischof led Eurowings with impressive passion, courage and a strong customer focus during one of the most challenging periods in aviation.”
