SunExpress Places Firm Order For 45 More Boeing 737 MAXs

SunExpress, the Turkey-based low-cost carrier, has opened up the Dubai Airshow 2023 with an order for up to 90 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, split between 45 firm and 45 options for Boeing’s best-selling narrowbody. The airline became the first to order aircraft at the event, which is anticipated to result in many carriers bolstering their order books throughout the week-long trade show.

A large number of 737 MAXs

SunExpress is an all-Boeing 737 operator, with the airline currently flying 50 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation (NG) and 11 737 MAX aircraft, the latest of which arrived in December 2022. Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries filings showed that the Turkish carrier still has 33 unfilled orders for the 737 MAX 8.

However, now, the airline is ordering a batch of Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft as well, the largest jet within the 737 MAX family. Speaking at the event, Max Kownatzki, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SunExpress, said that the order marked a “historic moment” for the airline. In total, the 45 aircraft firm order is split between 28 737 MAX 8 and 17 MAX 10. Whether the 45 options are split between the two types has remained unclear.

“As we are placing a commitment to a large aircraft number, […] this is a CEO’s dream day.”

The CEO noted that the relationship between SunExpress and Boeing is “characterized by trust, by collaboration, [and by] always finding a solution even when the going gets tough.” Kownatzki noted that with the latest order, the airline is potentially doubling its fleet in the next 10 years. At the same time, the executive stated that “in this market and in this industry, you really have to earn your rights to grow and earn your right to buy aircraft.”

Speaking about the 737 MAX 10, Kownatzki added that the largest member of the 737 MAX family has put SunExpress’ single aircraft capacity beyond 200 passengers, which, again, “is a historic moment in the 33-year history of SunExpress, a joint venture of Lufthansa Group and Turkish Airlines.”

Stan Deal, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), said that it was “great” to have SunExpress as Boeing’s customer. Deal noted that Kownatzki’s predecessor exercised 10 options for the 737 MAX 8 in during the Dubai Airshow in 2019 when the aircraft was still grounded.

“I got to tell you, that was important.”

All-Boeing operator

SunExpress began flying in 1990. Ch-aviation data shows that the airline now flies to 92 destinations in 34 different countries, operating a fleet of 68 Boeing 737 aircraft, split between 50 Boeing 737-800 and 11 737 MAX 8. However, presumably due to delivery delays, it has also wet leased-in seven Airbus A320 aircraft from Avion Express, a Lithuania-based Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) operator.

Photo: Dirk Daniel Mann | Shutterstock

Initially, SunExpress ordered the 737 MAX in February 2014. Then, the airline signed up for 15 737 MAX and 25 737NG aircraft, with options for 10 additional 737 MAXs. As mentioned before, the airline firmed up those 10 options During the Dubai Airshow in November 2019, when the type was still grounded following its second fatal accident in March 2019. At the time, Jens Bischof, the then-CEO of SunExpress, said that he was confident that Boeing could deliver “a safe, reliable, and efficient aircraft.”