Airline codes
XQ · SXS
IATA · ICAO · callsign “SUNEXPRESS”
Every SunExpress flight number begins with XQ. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code SXS, and the radio callsign is SUNEXPRESS.
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SunExpress (XQ) Guide
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Flights between Germany, Europe and Turkey’s holiday coast, fleet, fares, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper SunExpress fares. Ask a question
In short
SunExpress is a Turkish leisure airline set up by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, based at Antalya Airport. Its Boeing 737s fly to about 90 destinations in Turkey, Germany and the rest of Europe, carrying holidaymakers to the Turkish coast and visitors between Turkey and Germany. SunExpress has no alliance or loyalty scheme listed. All seats are Economy.
SunExpress is a Turkish leisure airline owned equally by Turkish Airlines and the Lufthansa Group.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with SunExpress. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
SunExpress (IATA XQ) is a Turkish leisure airline headquartered in Antalya and owned 50/50 by Turkish Airlines and the Lufthansa Group. It flies holidaymakers and visiting families between Turkey's coast and cities across Europe, especially Germany, and is the airline to look at if you want a direct flight to the Turkish coast without changing planes in Istanbul.
How SunExpress started
Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa set up SunExpress in Antalya in October 1989, and the first flight took off in 1990. The idea was simple: carry German tourists to the Turkish Riviera, and carry Turkish families in Germany home for the summer.
In 2001 SunExpress became the first private airline to run international scheduled flights from Turkey, starting with Antalya to Frankfurt. A second base opened in İzmir in 2006, and with it came domestic flights linking İzmir with cities in Anatolia. In May 2010 the airline received the first of six new Boeing 737-800s and launched a new corporate look.
A German subsidiary, SunExpress Deutschland, flew from June 2011 until June 2020, when the owners announced it would close during the pandemic. SunExpress itself and Eurowings took over part of its flying.
Antalya, İzmir and Ankara bases and 250 routes
SunExpress has bases in Antalya, İzmir and Ankara. As of April 2026 it lists more than 250 routes in 37 countries, across Europe, North Africa and Western and Central Asia.
Germany is the core market, with flights from large and small German airports to the Turkish coast, and partner Eurowings took over part of the German flying when SunExpress Deutschland closed. Domestic routes connect Anatolian cities with İzmir, Antalya and Ankara. In October 2023 SunExpress added Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus, with four round trips a week.
Frequencies rise sharply in summer. Many routes run only from spring to autumn, so a route you flew in August may not exist in February.
Partners for onward travel
SunExpress has codeshare deals with Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and TUI Airways, and interline deals with Air Canada, Azerbaijan Airlines, SWISS, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines. These let a SunExpress flight sit on one ticket with a partner flight, which helps travellers coming from North America or other parts of Europe.
The company today
Marcus Schnabel is chief executive. SunExpress reported revenue of 1.8 billion euros in 2023.
Flying SunExpress to the Turkish coast
For a beach holiday on the Turkish Riviera or the Aegean, compare the SunExpress direct flight from your home airport with a connection through Istanbul. The direct flight saves hours, and SunExpress runs it from many regional airports that larger airlines skip.
Book summer dates early, as school holiday flights to Antalya fill quickly.
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Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change
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Good to know
- AllianceNone
- Founded1989
- Other gatewaysADB / ESB
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
SunExpress (IATA: XQ, ICAO: SXS) is a Turkish leisure airline founded in 1989 as a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, based in Antalya. It flies about 82 Boeing 737 aircraft to around 90 destinations in Turkey, Germany and the rest of Europe.
| Headquarters | Antalya, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Boeing 737-800, 737 MAX 8 |
| Official website | sunexpress.com |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
The SunExpress network at a glance. The airline changes routes from time to time, and a search shows which XQ flights run on your dates.
Search flights
Turkey
Antalya (AYT) departures5 destinations
FromTo AYT ADB Antalyaİzmir Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT ESB AntalyaAnkara Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT DLM AntalyaDalaman Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT BJV AntalyaBodrum Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT ASR AntalyaKayseri Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
Germany
Antalya (AYT) departures6 destinations
FromTo AYT FRA AntalyaFrankfurt Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT DUS AntalyaDüsseldorf Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT CGN AntalyaCologne/Bonn Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT MUC AntalyaMunich Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT HAM AntalyaHamburg Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT STR AntalyaStuttgart Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
Rest of Europe & Cyprus
Antalya (AYT) departures4 destinations
FromTo AYT VIE AntalyaVienna Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT ZRH AntalyaZurich Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT AMS AntalyaAmsterdam Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
FromTo AYT ECN AntalyaErcan Available airlines1 airline- SunExpress
Fleet and aircraft
82 Boeing 737s in July 2025: 60 737-800s and 22 737 MAX 8s, all with 189 seats. 53 more MAX 8s and 17 MAX 10s are on order. One MAX 8 wears a Crystal Palace FC livery.
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Boeing 737-800 Narrow-body · 60 Most routes
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Boeing 737 MAX 8 Narrow-body · 22 Most routes
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Boeing 737 MAX 10 Narrow-body · on order Future fleet
Cabin classes
SunExpress sells a single cabin, Economy, so every passenger sits in the same section.
Economy All flights
SunEco, SunClassic and SunPremium style bundles
Cabin bagChecked bag on most faresOptional seatFood for purchase or included by fare
Frequent flyer programme
SunExpress your benefits is the customer programme. SunExpress is owned by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa but is not in Star Alliance, so Star Alliance status brings no benefits on its flights.
Baggage allowance
Check your e-ticket for the exact SunExpress allowance. It is set by the fare type, the cabin and the route, whether you start at AYT or another airport.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
What is included depends on the fare bundle; most fares include a checked bag. Check your booking.
Pro tip: package-holiday bookings may include baggage; check with your tour operator.
Travel day
Online Check-in
The four steps below take you from your SunExpress booking to the gate, whether you depart from AYT or another airport on its network.
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Step 1
Check in online
Use sunexpress.com or app to check in for eligible flights. Have your SunExpress booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
International SunExpress passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic XQ passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Each airport has its own SunExpress check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international XQ departures.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
Hand in checked luggage at the SunExpress counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.
SunExpress counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official SunExpress website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Ways to pay less for a SunExpress ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.
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01
Look across the week
If your dates can move, look at XQ flights across the whole week. Midweek seats are often cheaper than weekend ones.
Midweek flights -
02
Avoid peak seasons
Summer and German school holidays are the busiest times on Turkey routes.
Summer & German school holidays -
03
Check what each SunExpress fare includes
A SunExpress fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.
Baggage & changes -
Ready to compare fares?
Search SunExpress alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search SunExpress flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
SunExpress is owned 50/50 by Turkish Airlines and the Lufthansa Group.
Yes. Since 2006 it has flown domestic routes from İzmir and other bases.
It depends on the SunExpress fare you hold. The cheapest fares carry the strictest change rules, so read them before buying and make changes with the airline or the agent that issued the ticket.
On an infant ticket, a child under two usually flies on an adult’s lap. Add the baby when you book with SunExpress and check what it allows for prams and car seats.
Search the XQ flight number on SunExpress’ website or app. Airport departure screens show the same status on the day.
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Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown SunExpress.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying SunExpress.
We check these SunExpress answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.
General
SunExpress is a joint venture owned 50 percent by Turkish Airlines and 50 percent by the Lufthansa Group. It was founded in Antalya in October 1989 and flew for the first time in 1990.
SunExpress is headquartered at Antalya Airport, its main base. It also has bases in İzmir and Ankara, from which it flies to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and domestic destinations in Turkey.
SunExpress operates an all Boeing 737 fleet of 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft. It has further 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10 aircraft on order to expand and renew the fleet.
No. Although Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa own it, SunExpress is not a member of Star Alliance or any other alliance. Check the airline's own rules for connections and frequent flyer benefits.
SunExpress baggage allowance depends on the fare and any extras you buy. Look at the hand baggage and checked baggage sections on the SunExpress website, and add bags during booking if your fare does not include enough.
SunExpress uses the IATA code XQ and the ICAO code SXS. Flight numbers on your booking start with XQ.
No. SunExpress is owned by two Star Alliance airlines, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, but it is not an alliance member itself.
SunExpress has bases in Antalya, where its headquarters is, plus İzmir and Ankara.
Yes. SunExpress started flying to Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus on 30 October 2023 with four round trips a week.
SunExpress offers Economy class.
Contact SunExpress through its official website, sunexpress.com.
Booking
As of July 2025 SunExpress had 82 Boeing 737s in service: 60 737-800s and 22 737 MAX 8s. It had 53 more MAX 8s and 17 MAX 10s on order.
SunExpress flies to about 90 destinations. They are listed by region, with fares and route guides where we have them, in the destinations section of this page.
Getting there
Online check-in: yes. Check in on sunexpress.com. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
Timing & weather
SunExpress was founded in 1989, 37 years ago.