26 May, 2026 – SunExpress Airlines, the joint venture of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, has flown Crystal Palace supporters to Germany for the club’s UEFA Conference League Final aboard ‘The Eagle’ — the airline’s specially branded Crystal Palace aircraft. 

Taking place Wednesday evening at The Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, the final sees Crystal Palace take on Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the club’s first-ever European final, marking a landmark moment in Palace’s history.

As official airline partner of Crystal Palace, SunExpress Airlines operated a dedicated supporter flight from Gatwick Airport to Leipzig/Halle Airport, helping fans travel directly to eastern Germany to watch one of the biggest matches in the club’s history.

The flight was operated by ‘The Eagle’, SunExpress Airlines’ Crystal Palace-themed Boeing 737-8 aircraft featuring the club’s fan-voted livery. The flight held many surprises for fans, such as a special onboard announcement by the teams' captain Dean Henderson and a raffle to win flight vouchers, hidden below seats on board, making the flight a unique fan experience for all Palace supporters ahead of the big match.

Celebrating Palace’s proud South London roots, the aircraft showcases the club’s iconic eagle alongside the “South London and Proud” tagline and has become a standout symbol of the partnership between SunExpress Airlines and Crystal Palace since entering service.

Marcus Schnabel, CEO at SunExpress Airlines, said: “Today is a hugely special occasion for Crystal Palace and its supporters, and we are delighted to have played a part in getting fans to Leipzig for this historic final.

“As the club’s official airline partner, operating this dedicated supporter flight was a fantastic way to combine the convenience and comfort of SunExpress Airlines, with the passion and loyalty of Palace fans. We wish the club all the very best in the final and hope they bring the trophy back to South London!” 

‘The Eagle’ continues to operate across SunExpress Airlines’ extensive route network, including on flights from Crystal Palace’s local airport, London Gatwick.

Since August 2025, SunExpress has been the exclusive airline partner of Crystal Palace. The partnership includes comprehensive branding in the stadium as well as joint marketing activities and fan campaigns. 

The partnership also underlines the importance of London for SunExpress. The airline offers year-round direct connections to a wide range of leisure destinations across the Turkish Riviera and Anatolia from both London Gatwick and Stansted airports.

- ENDS -

Notes to editors
To download an image of “The Eagle”, 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 35 years of experience and leisure airline expertise. Operating flights to 250 routes across 37 countries, SunExpress Airlines 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)7884 187297  / +44 (0)7350 420791
Email: [email protected]