SUNEXPRESS REPORTS SUSTAINED UK EASTER DEMAND WITH NEARLY 65,000 PASSENGERS
April 17, 2026
Antalya, Türkiye: 16 April, 2026 – SunExpress, the joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, has reported sustained demand from the United Kingdom to Türkiye during the Easter holiday period (28 March – 12 April 2026 for most UK schools), highlighting Türkiye’s continued appeal as a leisure destination.
During the period, SunExpress carried almost 65,000 passengers in between UK-Türkiye routes, from 10 UK airports.
Antalya remained the standout destination for UK travellers, with Antalya–London Gatwick (AYT-LGW-AYT) ranking as the most popular route during the Easter period. Services to Antalya accounted for the majority of UK traffic, with more than 50,000 passengers travelling on these routes alone.
SunExpress carried a total of around 680,000 passengers to Türkiye and back during the Easter holidays. Operational performance also remained solid throughout the peak travel period. The airline recorded an on-time performance (OTP) of 85% supporting a smooth travel experience during the busy Easter season.
Marcus Schnabel, CEO of SunExpress, said: “Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties that continue to influence global travel patterns, the Easter season clearly demonstrates that the desire to travel remains strong. Our latest passenger numbers underline Türkiye’s enduring appeal as a well-established and trusted destination for UK travellers, highlighting the resilience and sustained strength of leisure travel demand.”
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.
- Ends -
Notes to editors
To download images of SunExpress, click here.
To download an image of Marcus Schnabel, CEO at SunExpress, click here.
About SunExpress Airlines
Founded in Antalya as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, SunExpress Airlines acts as a tourism ambassador between Türkiye and Europe with over 35 years of experience and leisure airline expertise. Operating flights to 250 routes across 37 countries, SunExpress carries nearly 16 million passengers annually with over 4,500 employees based in Antalya, Frankfurt, Izmir, Ankara and Dalaman. For more information, please visit www.sunexpress.com
For more information, contact:
Charlie Hampton / Faye Clarke
Tel: +44 (0)7350 420791
Email: sunexpress@pembrokeandrye.com