One of Europe’s low-cost airlines, SunExpress, increased its passenger numbers by 7% in 2025, reaching approximately 16 million passengers. Flying to 92 destinations in 35 countries, the airline also saw record demand during the Christmas and New Year period.
SunExpress, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, maintained its growth momentum with its performance in 2025. The company carried approximately 16 million passengers across 237 different routes to 92 destinations in 35 countries, representing a 7% increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year.
During the Christmas and New Year travel period between 20 December 2025 and 4 January 2026, SunExpress carried around 500,000 passengers. This figure indicated a 9% increase compared to the same period last year.
Operating as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, SunExpress focuses primarily on scheduled leisure flights, while also continuing to serve as an important air bridge connecting the Turkish diaspora in Europe with Anatolian cities in southern Türkiye.
Meanwhile, a significant change also took place in the company’s senior management. According to information reported by LARA, SunExpress CEO Max Kownatzki handed over his position to Marcus Schnabel, who previously managed ground handling operations at Lufthansa Airlines’ Munich hub. Kownatzki will continue his career as CEO of Eurowings, the Lufthansa Group’s low-cost airline brand.
Under the leadership of Max Kownatzki, SunExpress achieved record revenues of €2.2 billion in 2024, representing a 23% increase. The company also strengthened its growth strategy in these markets by increasing its capacity in the UK and Ireland markets by 25% for the 2025 summer season.
