SPECIAL COLOURS - SUNEXPRESS / BOEING 737 MAX 8 / TC-SMF - "Crystal Palace"

 Paul Bannwarth

SPECIAL COLOURS - Sun Express / TC-SOI / Boeing B737 MAX8 - (VFB Express - STUTTGART KOMMT)

Paul Bannwarth
 

SPECIAL COLOURS - SunExpress Airlines, the joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, officially unveiled its fan-chosen Crystal Palace Football Club aircraft, ‘The Eagle’

SunExpress Airlines, the joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, officially unveiled its fan-chosen Crystal Palace Football Club aircraft, ‘The Eagle’, at London Gatwick Airport today, marking a major milestone in its official airline partnership with the club.

The bespoke livery, chosen directly by Crystal Palace supporters, was revealed during a dedicated airside ceremony at Gatwick’s South Terminal. Senior representatives from SunExpress, Crystal Palace FC and Gatwick Airport were joined by media, stakeholders and Crystal Palace legend, Mark Bright, as the aircraft arrived at the gate in its new colours for the first time.

Earlier this year, SunExpress and Crystal Palace invited supporters of the club to vote between two specially created designs. ‘The Eagle’, celebrating the club’s iconic crest and deep South London identity, won by a landslide with 87 per cent of the vote. The campaign generated the highest engagement ever recorded for a Crystal Palace partner activation and ranked as the second most engaged online vote in the club’s history.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with the registration TC-SMF will now operate across the SunExpress network, including regular services from London Gatwick, as well as 11 other UK and Ireland airports in total from summer 2026, carrying Crystal Palace’s colours to destinations across Europe and Türkiye.
In addition to ‘summer sun and beach’ travel, SunExpress caters for a number of other types of travel including cultural, archaeological, and culinary tourism, and sports travel.

SunExpress is a value carrier with a strong presence on the Turkish Riviera and in Anatolia. The airline operates in a total of 250 routes to 106 destinations across 37 countries.

Photos: Sun Express
 

SPECIAL COLOURS - SunExpress / TC-SMF / Boeing 737-8 MAX - "Crystal Palace" special colours

Sun Express
 

SPECIAL LIVERY - SUN EXPRESS / B737-800W / TC-SPY - "The Smurfs"

Photo: Markus Altmann
 

FLEET / HYBRID C/S - SUNEXPRESS AND SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXPANDED WINTER OPERATIONS

SunExpress, a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, will strengthen its partnership with South African Airways (SAA) by expanding operations in the upcoming European winter season.

Building on the successful first year of their partnership, SunExpress will now double its leased fleet to SAA, providing four Boeing 737-800 aircraft with cockpit as well as maintenance crew for a six-month period. The first aircraft will start operations at the beginning of November. The second season of damp lease operations will feature a fresh cabin configuration with 16 premium seats and 159 economy seats.

This expanded capacity will enable SunExpress to support SAA with 134 weekly flights across three routes, ensuring broader connectivity and greater travel options.

SunExpress

Photo: Jacobus Saayman

B737-8JP(WL) / TC-SPR

 

HYBRID C/S - SUN EXPRESS / B737-8F2(WL) / TC-TLI - (ex. Iraqi cs) cn.29682 (ex.A 40-BM, N1786B)

Paul Bannwarth
 

SPECIAL SCHEME - Sun Express (STAR TRECK - Paramount+ livery) / B737-8MA(WL) / TC-SPO

Paul Bannwarth
 

DUBAI AIR SHOW 2023 - SunExpress to Buy up to 90 Boeing 737 MAX Jets to Fuel Robust Growth

 

- Agreement includes 45 737-8 and 737-10 models with opportunity for up to 45 more jets

- Leading Türkiye leisure carrier to more than double 737 fleet, reaching up to 150 jets in the next decade

- 737 MAX family offers greater efficiency to enable long-term sustainability goals

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and SunExpress, a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, announced today the airline has again selected the 737 MAX to continue its robust growth. With a commitment to purchase up to 90 fuel-efficient single-aisle Boeing jets, announced at the Dubai Airshow, Türkiye's leading leisure carrier will more than double its fleet into the next decade. The agreement includes 28 737-8 and 17 737-10 models, with the opportunity for up to 45 additional 737 MAX airplanes.
"Building on the resounding success of our strategy in the post-pandemic period, SunExpress is now poised for next-level growth to meet market demand and achieve a greater international footprint," said Max Kownatzki, SunExpress CEO. "Over the next decade, we will more than double our fleet, reaching a 150-aircraft fleet by 2033. Also, the addition of the 737-10, the newest 737 MAX plane with up to 230 seats, to our fleet will allow us to strengthen our capacity further. SunExpress is well-positioned for the future and will expand its network with a more fuel-efficient and environmentally sustainable aircraft fleet, while continuing to fulfill its role as Türkiye's tourism ambassador."

This new commitment from SunExpress will build on the airline's previous order for 42 737-8s, nine of which have been delivered.
"SunExpress's continued commitment to the 737 MAX reflects its confidence in the airplane's capability to meet demand from travelers to popular destinations across Türkiye and beyond," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737 MAX is a proven airplane on the SunExpress network, delivering unmatched fuel efficiency and reliability."
The 737 MAX offers carriers flexibility for short- and medium-haul air travel, an ideal airplane family for leisure operators such as SunExpress. The 737-8 seats 162 to 200 passengers depending on configuration and offers a range of up to 6,480 km (3,500 nautical miles), while the 737-10, the largest 737 MAX model, offers a range of up to 5,740 km (3,100 nautical miles). The 737 MAX family reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes they replace.
SunExpress, which specializes in offering direct connections between Europe, Türkiye and popular holiday destinations, continues to expand its Boeing 737 fleet to support its significant growth. In 2022, the airline's passenger count reached nearly 11 million across 175 routes to 30 countries.

SPECIAL COLORS - Sun Express / B737-8HC(WL) / TC-SPE (PAN Patrol The Mighty Movie livery)

 Paul Bannwarth

SUN EXPRESS / B737-800W / TC-SPF - “Proudly Flying Boeing”

 Ton Jochems 

SUN EXPRESS - B737-8HC(Scw) - TC-SNU

Paul Bannwarth - BSL

Our hearts are bleeding’, said Peter Glade, CCO of SunExpress. ‘For 30 years it has been a matter of our heart to be the bridge between our two home countries and also to connect Turkey with the rest of Europe.’We are positive that we will be back above the clouds with you very soon.

SunExpress

SUN EXPRESS / B737-800W / TC-SOE

Ton Jochems - AMS

Boeing, SunExpress Sign Order for 10 Additional 737 MAX Airplanes

Leading leisure carrier exercises options for 10 MAX 8 jets for fleet renewal and growth

SunExpress CEO: "Have full confidence Boeing will deliver us a safe, reliable and efficient aircraft."

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SunExpress is exercising options for 10 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes to continue renewing its fleet and growing its position in the leisure travel industry, the airline and Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today at the Dubai Airshow.

The purchase, valued at $1.2 billion according to list prices, adds to a previous SunExpress order for 32 MAX airplanes.

"We have a long standing, strong and trustful relationship with Boeing and thus we decided to turn our option into an order. We stand behind our strategic decision to phase the 737 MAX into our fleet for all of its economic and ecological advantages, mid- and long-term," says Jens Bischof, CEO of SunExpress. "We have full confidence that Boeing will deliver us a safe, reliable, and efficient aircraft. However, it goes without saying that this requires the undisputed airworthiness of the model, granted by all relevant authorities. Our utmost priority at SunExpress is and has always been safety."

The airline, which specializes in offering direct connections between Europe, Turkey and popular holiday destinations, has achieved significant growth in recent years as it steadily expanded its fleet of mainly Boeing 737 airplanes. Last year, SunExpress' passenger count climbed to nearly 10 million across roughly 100 destinations.

"We are honored and humbled by the trust that SunExpress has placed in our team at Boeing. They have been a wonderful partner over the years, demonstrating every day the efficiency and reliability of the Boeing 737 across their growing network," said Stan Deal, president & CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We regret the impact the MAX grounding has had on SunExpress and their passengers. The Boeing team is working hard to safely return the airplane to service and providing the capacity for SunExpress to continue serving as the backbone of air travel in the Turkish tourism industry."

The 737 MAX 8 is part of a family of airplanes that offer 130 to 230 seats and the ability to fly up to 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 kilometers). With improvements such as the CFM International LEAP-1B engine and Advanced Technology winglets, the 737 MAX provides operators a 14% improvement over today's most efficient single-aisle airplanes and extended range to open up new destinations.

About SunExpress:
As a holiday specialist, SunExpress has been offering non-stop services between Europe and Turkey, as well as to popular holiday destinations on the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, North Africa and the Red Sea coasts for almost 30 years. This year, the joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines has been operating the largest fleet in its history, with 84 aircraft serving 90 destinations in 30 countries. The airline, which has received numerous awards for its service, provides customers with a comfortable flying experience at the best value and scores highly with its wide range of innovations and digital travel services. For more information, please visit www.sunexpress.com.

About Boeing:
Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

SUN EXPRESS - B737-800W - TC-SNY

Ton Jochems - AYT

SUN EXPRESS - A320-200 - LY-NVZ

Ton Jochems - AYT

SUN EXPRESS - A320-200 - LY-COM

Paul Bannwarth - BSL

SUN EXPRESS - B737-800W - TC-SNY

Ton Jochems - BLL

SUN EXPRESS - B737-800W -TC-SOH

Frankfurt