Corendon Airlines vs Sterling Airlines

Overview

Corendon Airlines (legally Turistik Hava Taşımacılık A.Ş.) is a Turkish leisure airline. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 2004, began flying in 2005 and is a subsidiary of Corendon Tourism Group. It is headquartered in Antalya. It belongs to no global alliance. Sister carriers are Corendon Dutch Airlines and Corendon Airlines Europe.

Network and hubs

The airline flies scheduled and charter services to more than 140 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Its hubs are Antalya and İzmir Adnan Menderes, and it also has a base at Ankara Esenboğa. Most traffic is holiday flying between Turkey and European cities. It has also kept flying to Russia, including charters from Perm to Antalya announced for May 2024.

Fleet

The fleet is all Boeing 737. The Wikipedia fleet table lists 9 Boeing 737-800 and 6 Boeing 737 MAX 8, 15 aircraft in total, while Plane Finder lists 14. Counts differ between sources and change often. In September 2026, FlightGlobal reported that the Corendon group would cut its fleet from 30 to 21 aircraft this winter because of high fuel costs. Capacity and schedules may therefore be smaller than in summer.

On board

All aircraft are single-class economy. The 737-800 has 189 seats in a 3-3 layout with a pitch of about 30 inches, according to Seatlink. Kayak says there are no power sockets or Wi-Fi. Meals are generally an extra, except on the Premium fare, which includes a hot meal or snacks. Seats and meals can be pre-selected for a fee on lower fares.

Good to know

• Fares: the branded fares are Lite, Eco, Flex and Premium (All Inclusive). Premium includes a 30 kg bag, seat selection, priority boarding and flexible changes or refunds.
• Cabin baggage: the airline's baggage page allows one 10 kg bag and one 4 kg underseat bag on the Eco fare.
• Checked baggage: Flex includes 23 kg and Premium 30 kg. Extra baggage of up to 40 kg per person can be bought, and no single piece may exceed 32 kg.
• Extras: the additional services page lists seat selection, meals, priority check-in and boarding, lounge access, pets in cabin and sports equipment.
• Safety: Wikipedia lists a 2012 cockpit fire during pushback at Antalya, with injuries during the evacuation, and a 2024 bird-strike engine failure that ended in an emergency landing at Frankfurt.

Global Network and Operations

Sterling Airlines was a Danish low-cost carrier primarily operating in Europe, offering an extensive network connecting major cities across Northern and Central Europe. The airline's fleet predominantly consisted of Boeing 737 variants, enabling efficient short to medium-haul flights. Sterling Airlines focused on providing affordable services between key hubs such as Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, and other destinations throughout the Nordic countries and beyond.
• Operated a fleet of 19 Boeing 737 aircraft optimized for regional European routes.
• Served over 30 destinations mainly in Europe, focusing on leisure and business travel markets.
• Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with operational bases at Copenhagen Airport.
• Specialized in scheduled low-cost services, maximizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation and Milestones

Throughout its operation, Sterling Airlines achieved important milestones in the European low-cost market:
• Among the first low-cost carriers in Scandinavia to adopt a single aircraft type fleet strategy (Boeing 737), simplifying operations and maintenance.
• Implemented digital booking platforms early to enhance customer accessibility and reduce distribution costs.
• Pioneered low-fare service models in the Nordic region, helping to stimulate increased air traffic and competition.
• Maintained a nimble approach to route planning, rapidly adjusting to market demand changes.

Customer Experience and Recognition

Sterling Airlines offered a straightforward, value-driven customer experience consistent with low-cost carrier standards. Seating arrangements typically included single-class cabins with a focus on affordability. Ancillary services such as in-flight meals and entertainment were offered on a purchase basis rather than included in ticket prices. Despite its limited service scope compared to full-service airlines, Sterling was appreciated for competitive pricing and punctual operations.

Future Outlook

Although Sterling Airlines ceased operations in 2008 following financial difficulties, its legacy influenced regional low-cost market dynamics. The brand demonstrated strong potential for Nordic air travel democratization. Potential revival scenarios would require adaptation to contemporary sustainability goals and digital transformation within the highly competitive European LCC sector.