Corendon Airlines and SunExpress are both Turkish leisure carriers based in Antalya, with bases at İzmir and Ankara and all-Boeing 737 fleets. Travellers compare them on holiday routes between Turkey and Europe, where both sell cheap single-class economy fares with extras charged separately.
Quick verdict
SunExpress is the larger and more established carrier, with 85 aircraft, close to 16 million passengers in 2025, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa Group ownership, and a fleet that is still being renewed. Corendon is a smaller operation, and its group is cutting its fleet from 30 to 21 aircraft this winter, so winter schedules may be thinner. Both are no-frills economy airlines with similar seat pitch, so compare the total fare including bags and seat, not the headline price.
Choose Corendon Airlines if…
- You want a 10 kg cabin bag plus a 4 kg underseat bag included on the Eco fare.
- You want an all-in Premium fare with a 30 kg bag, a hot meal or snacks, seat selection and flexible changes.
- Your trip is in summer, when Corendon's capacity is fuller than in the winter cut.
Choose SunExpress if…
- You prefer a bigger airline backed by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, with a fleet that is being modernised.
- You want to stream films and shows to your own phone or tablet through SunExpress Entertainment.
- You travel light and will take the SunLight fare with only an underseat bag, or add an 8 kg cabin bag from €19.99.
At a glance
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Key differences
Size and fleet
SunExpress operated 85 Boeing 737s in November 2025, and took four more 737-8s in January 2026 after five in 2025. Corendon lists about 15 aircraft (9 737-800 and 6 737 MAX 8). In September 2026 FlightGlobal reported that the Corendon group will cut its fleet from 30 to 21 aircraft this winter because of fuel costs. Check that your Corendon flight is still scheduled if you book for winter.
Network and hubs
Both airlines are based at Antalya and İzmir, with a base at Ankara. SunExpress also flies domestic Turkish routes and has served Ercan in Northern Cyprus since October 2023. Corendon sells scheduled and charter flights to more than 140 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, mostly holiday traffic. Corendon has also kept flying to Russia. Neither airline flies long-haul or belongs to an alliance.
Cabins and seats
Both are single-class economy with 189 seats on the 737-800, in a 3-3 layout on Corendon. Seat pitch is about 30 in on Corendon and about 29 in on SunExpress, a difference of around an inch that most people will not notice. Corendon's 737s have no seatback screens, power sockets or Wi-Fi, according to Kayak. SunExpress streams content to your own device.
Baggage and fares
Corendon's Eco fare includes a 10 kg cabin bag and a 4 kg underseat bag, but no checked bag. Checked allowances rise to 23 kg on Flex and 30 kg on Premium. SunExpress's SunLight fare includes only a 4 kg underseat bag, and an 8 kg cabin bag costs from €19.99. SunEco and higher fares include the 8 kg bag. SunExpress charges €80 for excess hand baggage at the airport, so weigh your bag before you leave.
Food and extras
Meals are an extra on both airlines unless you buy the right fare. Corendon's Premium fare includes a hot meal or snacks. SunExpress sells food through its SunCafé menu and lets you pre-order meals up to 36 hours before departure. Both sell lounge access, seat selection and extra baggage as add-ons. SunExpress also offers a SunPriority package and has its own benefits programme.
Frequently asked questions
Is SunExpress better than Corendon?
SunExpress is larger, has Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa as owners, and is renewing its fleet. Corendon includes a bigger cabin bag and offers a Premium all-inclusive fare. For most holiday trips the cheaper total fare for your dates is the better choice.
Which has more legroom, Corendon or SunExpress?
Corendon is slightly ahead, with about 30 in of pitch on its 737-800 against about 29 in on SunExpress. Both list 189 seats on the 737-800.
Do Corendon and SunExpress include checked baggage?
Not on their cheapest fares. Corendon's Eco fare has no checked bag, and its Flex fare includes 23 kg. SunExpress's SunLight fare has only an underseat bag, and checked bags depend on the fare or are bought separately.
About Corendon Airlines Read more
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.
About SunExpress Read more
Overview
SunExpress is a Turkish leisure airline. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in October 1989 as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, and began flying in 1990. The two parents each own 50%. The airline is headquartered in Antalya. It is not a member of an alliance.
Network and hubs
Operating bases are Antalya, İzmir and Ankara. The airline links Turkey with Europe and the wider Mediterranean region, with holiday destinations such as Antalya, İzmir and Dalaman prominent, as described by AviTrader. It also flies domestic routes within Turkey and began flights to Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus in October 2023. In its January 2026 release the airline reported 7% passenger growth in 2025, with almost 16 million passengers carried.
Fleet
The all-Boeing 737 fleet numbered 85 aircraft in November 2025. It consists of 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s. Four new 737-8s were delivered in January 2026, after five in 2025, as part of fleet modernisation (AviTrader, 29 January 2026). Fleet totals vary between sources, so check the airline's fleet page for the current figure.
On board
- Cabin: single-class economy. Third-party seat map data lists 189 seats on the 737-800 with about 29 in (74 cm) pitch (seatmaps.com).
- Seats: the airline says its cabins use leather-covered Safran seats with the seat pocket above the tray table.
- Food: the SunCafé menu is sold on board, and meals can be pre-ordered up to 36 hours before departure. Inclusion depends on the fare.
- Entertainment: content streams to personal devices through the Immfly-based SunExpress Entertainment system, announced in 2018.
Good to know
- Baggage: the SunLight fare includes only a 4 kg underseat bag (30 x 40 x 20 cm). An 8 kg cabin bag can be added from €19.99. SunEco and higher fares include an 8 kg cabin bag (55 x 40 x 23 cm), according to the fares document, which also lists an excess hand baggage fee of €80 at the airport.
- Extras: seat reservation, lounge access, fare upgrades and the SunPriority package are sold as extras.
- Loyalty: the airline runs its own "your benefits" programme.
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