SunExpress
A Turkish low-cost airline specializing in direct leisure flights between Turkey and major European cities, with its busiest operations in Izmir and Antalya.
About SunExpress
SunExpress was founded in 1989 as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, which remain its parent companies. Headquartered in Antalya, it operates as a Turkish leisure and low-cost carrier under its own brand. Its business primarily serves holiday traffic and passengers visiting friends and relatives between Turkey and European markets, combining scheduled services with routes shaped by seasonal travel demand.
Izmir is SunExpress's busiest departure hub by number of routes, followed by Antalya, Istanbul, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt. The airline operates 74 routes to 21 destinations across five countries. Its network links Izmir, Antalya and Istanbul with European cities including Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Basel and Cologne, with a particular emphasis on nonstop services to Turkish leisure regions.
The Boeing 737-800 is the aircraft type recorded across these services. SunExpress generally uses a single economy-class cabin rather than offering a separate business-class section. Passengers can choose among fare products with different combinations of checked baggage, seat selection, rebooking flexibility and onboard services. Meals, drinks and preferred seats may be included with some products or available for an additional charge.
SunExpress does not belong to Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld, despite being jointly owned by the parent companies of two Star Alliance members. Its loyalty offering is SunExpress Bonus, through which eligible customers can receive programme benefits under the applicable terms. Travellers should not assume that alliance status privileges or mileage earning through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles or Lufthansa Miles & More apply to ordinary SunExpress bookings.
A practical strength of SunExpress is its range of direct links between European cities and Turkish destinations, allowing many travellers to avoid connections through major network-airline hubs. The main trade-off is its unbundled low-cost model: the cheapest fare may exclude checked baggage, advance seat selection, meals or flexible changes. Frequencies can also vary by season, so passengers arranging separate connections should examine schedules and fare conditions carefully.
Good to know
Flying with SunExpress — what to expect
Compare Fare Bundles
SunExpress fares include different combinations of baggage, seat selection and ticket flexibility. Compare the total cost with any required extras before choosing a fare.
Check Baggage Terms
Cabin and checked-baggage allowances depend on the booked fare and route. Confirm the limits stated in your reservation before travelling to the airport.
Economy Cabin Only
SunExpress generally operates a single economy-class cabin. Preferred seating and other comfort options may be available for an additional charge or through selected fare products.
Seasonal Frequencies
Many services cater to leisure demand and may operate more frequently during summer and school-holiday periods. Verify the operating days before arranging accommodation or onward transport.
Onboard Food Options
Food and drinks may be purchased onboard or included with certain products. Check your fare inclusions and carry a suitable payment method.
Protect Separate Connections
SunExpress focuses mainly on point-to-point travel, and separately ticketed connections may not be protected after disruption. Allow a generous interval between independently booked flights.
Network overview
Where SunExpress flies
SunExpress operates 74 routes to 21 destinations across 5 countries, its longest sector reaching Antalya to Dusseldorf (2,478 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities SunExpress flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Antalya → Dusseldorf
2,478 km · AYT → DUS
The longest sector in the SunExpress network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by SunExpress
Notable destinations on SunExpress's network.
XQIzmirdirectXQAntalyadirectXQIstanbuldirectXQBerlindirectXQDusseldorfdirectXQFrankfurtdirectXQHamburgdirectXQMunichdirectXQStuttgartdirectXQViennadirectXQBaseldirectXQColognedirectDestination list is indicative of SunExpress's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
Reviews of SunExpress
TripAdvisor · 2023–2023- 510
- 48
- 31
- 24
- 127
What travellers flew
Counted from the 50 reviews below — a tally of the flights reviewed, with each chip carrying the average score those reviewers gave. Nothing here reads their prose or summarises what they said.
✓ marks a group averaging 7/10 or better, − one averaging 4/10 or worse, across at least three reviews.
Better than expected
I’ve used Sun Express afew times now. I can’t understand the bad reviews. Good service for a economy budget airline. Fast efficient service, new plane and good smiley air stewardesses. Best thing is they offer extra luggage for a reasonable price and no hassle… See more if your slightly over. Thank you Sun Express
See lessPosted November 2023 by riazm1
Destroyed luggage
They destroyed my luggage, and by saying destroyed I mean it has a big whole and is totaly broken and ripped. It is, or should I say it was made from a very hard material. Except for that it is mend in many places and corners. Ive never seen anything like… See more that. What's better, I tried to report it on their website, but it turns out I can't because I'm not from Turkey. If you are not from Turkey, you have another partnering website you have to contact, which is even worse - after 2h of fighting with the report and screaming from frustration I finally finished, clicked "send", and got the information that there are technical difficulties and I should contact them some other way, another day. That's honestly tragic. Sunexpress, nothing with you works properly. Doubtfully will I ever fly with you again.
See lessPosted August 2023 by Antonina J
A very bad timing and horrible customer service.
The worst flight I’ve ever had!!! 30 minutes delay in the outbound flight from Antalya to Adana. And 8 hours and 30 minuted delays in the inbound flight from Gaziantep to Antalya… They haven’t informed us with the delays. We just arrived to the airport 2 hours… See more before the flight to have this surprise. We tried to contact their Turkey call Center to complain about it..no response. We managed to reach their call Center in UK, who respond in a very cold way saying there nothing they can do and they hang up the phone in a very rude way..!!!!
See lessPosted July 2023 by Abdullah R, Edinburgh
worst airline I’ve flew with.
Make ryanair look like Emirates. Both outbound and inbound flights the air hostesses looked completely lost and disinterested. Im 6 foot 3 and spent 5 hours crushed behind the seat in front, and no recline fitted on the seats, definitely the smallest legroom I… See more have experienced and I fly on average twice a month for both business and pleasure. We sat for an hour on the taxiway in 35c with air hostesses walking up and down constantly counting passengers but didn't think to update the passengers on what was happening, oh and dont expect any updates from the cockpit about arrival time, temperatures, delays because they dont do that either. I wont fly with these again, what an absolute mess. They also didnt offer anyone online check in, but when reaching the check in desk at the airport they decided that they were going to charge everyone £5 per person to print the boarding pass. A line of 30 people took 2 hours to go down as every person who reached the front had the same argument and were told they weren't getting their boarding pass until the walked to the other-side of the terminal to the sun express help desk and paid the fine. The girl behind the check out was smirking when everyone was expressing their concerns which made everyone even more irritated. The only reason they get 2 star instead of 1 is because they are dirt cheap, but considering they are a joint venture of Lufthansa and turkish airlines you would expect them to maintain a certain level of service. Do not fly with these, pay a little bit more and go with jet2, tui or even ryanair for your package holidays.
See lessPosted June 2023 by Ryan B, United Kingdom
DO NOT PRE BOOK AND PAY FOR SEATS ON THE PLANE AS THEY WILL GIVE YOUR SEATS TO ANYONE AND NOT REFUND YOU.
Absolute sham of an airline, if you pre book and pay for seats on the plane you will not get them, and you will not be refunded and it is impossible to get through to the airline.
Posted June 2023 by Debbie H
Excellent no
Flew back from Antalya with Sun Express today and can't sing their praises enough. Efficient service at the airport, very friendly staff, small delay leaving of 20 mins ended up as only 5 minute delay arriving at Manchester. The flight crew were all very… See more smartly dressed, friendly and helpful. So different to our flight out to Antalya with another airline. First time flying with Sun Express and not the last. Well done to everyone.
See lessPosted June 2023 by Sara K, Sale
Traveller reviews originally published on TripAdvisor, shown for reference — service standards may have changed since. Originfacts does not edit or verify individual reviews, and the sample reflects who chose to leave one.
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FAQ
SunExpress — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Tickets are often cheaper outside the summer peak, school holidays and other busy travel periods between Europe and Turkey. Booking early and comparing midweek travel dates may reveal lower fares.
- SunExpress's carry-on allowance can depend on the fare and booking conditions. Check the weight and size limits displayed in your reservation or on the airline's official baggage page before departure.
- The busiest departure hubs, in order by number of routes, are Izmir, Antalya, Istanbul, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt.
- SunExpress connects Izmir, Antalya and Istanbul with European cities including Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, Basel and Cologne.
- The longest SunExpress route is Antalya to Dusseldorf, about 2,478 km nonstop.
- SunExpress serves exactly 21 destinations across five countries and operates 74 routes.
- Izmir is SunExpress's busiest departure hub by route count, followed by Antalya. Istanbul, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt are also important departure points in its network.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts and never adds a fee.