Quick verdict
Turkish Airlines and SunExpress cater to different segments of travelers with distinct offerings. Turkish Airlines, as a full-service flag carrier, provides a comprehensive range of cabin classes, meal inclusions, and on-time performance at ~82%, supported by a larger fleet size of approximately 400 aircraft and membership in the Star Alliance. In contrast, SunExpress, a low-cost carrier, presents more budget-friendly options with lower price ranges but lacks long-haul services and premium amenities such as complimentary meals and extensive lounge access. Turkish Airlines excels in comfort, global connectivity, and passenger experience, making it suitable for business travelers and those seeking luxury, whereas SunExpress appeals mainly to budget-conscious travelers and families looking for economical and efficient regional travel.
At a glance
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Turkish Airlines and SunExpress are two prominent international carriers, each representing its region with strong global connectivity and a focus on premium service. This comparison highlights their key strengths to help travelers make informed decisions.
About Turkish Airlines Read more
Overview
Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları) is the flag carrier of Turkey. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 20 May 1933, is listed on Borsa Istanbul (THYAO) and has been a member of Star Alliance since 2008. Its corporate headquarters are at the former Atatürk Airport site in Istanbul. Its subsidiaries include the low-cost carrier AJet, Turkish Cargo and Turkish Technic. Its frequent-flyer programme is Miles&Smiles.
Network and hubs
The main hub is Istanbul Airport, which replaced Atatürk Airport in a phased move completed in 2019. CAPA lists Esenboğa (Ankara) and Adnan Menderes (Izmir) as secondary hubs. Wikipedia describes the airline as serving more countries than any other carrier, with about 340 to 350 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas, including a large domestic network. Most intercontinental journeys connect through Istanbul.
Fleet
Turkish Airlines Group, including AJet, had 516 aircraft in 2025, with up to 570 planned for 2026, according to its CFO (reported 5 March 2026). Third-party trackers such as Plane Finder list roughly 420 mainline aircraft, including Airbus A321neo, A321, A330, A350-900 and A320 types and Boeing 737, 777 and 787-9 types. Figures vary by source and date.
On board
Turkish Airlines operates two cabins, Economy and Business. Wego reports that every Economy fare includes a meal, checked baggage and seatback entertainment. Business class adds lie-flat seats on long-haul aircraft, Flying Chef dining and lounge access. Wego also reports that Wi-Fi is free for Business passengers and Miles&Smiles members, with free Wi-Fi for all passengers being rolled out through 2026. Seat dimensions vary by aircraft type and are not given here.
Good to know
- Cabin baggage: per the airline's baggage page, Economy allows one 8 kg bag (55x40x23 cm) plus a 4 kg personal item. Business allows two 8 kg bags plus a personal item.
- Checked baggage: the allowance depends on route and fare, so check the booking.
- Lounges: The Points Guy notes two large lounges at Istanbul, one for elite members and one for Business passengers.
- Punctuality: Simple Flying reported 81.41% on-time performance for 2025, using Cirium data.
- Safety: Wikipedia records 19 incidents and accidents in the airline's history, 15 of them fatal.
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.
Ranking
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