SunExpress, a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, has added Cork—a coastal Irish city known for its cultural richness—to its 2025 summer schedule. Direct scheduled flights between İzmir and Cork will operate twice weekly throughout the summer season.
The inaugural flight took place on 31 May from İzmir to Cork, where arriving passengers were greeted with Turkish culinary delights during a welcome ceremony at Cork Airport. The colourful event was attended by representatives from both Cork Airport and SunExpress.
“The Cork-İzmir Route Demonstrates Our Commitment to the Irish Market”
Commenting on the new route, Tobias Bracht, Senior Manager of Group Sales at SunExpress, said:
“We are delighted to have operated our first flight from Cork to İzmir. This new route is part of our strategy to expand our flight network and reflects our strong commitment to operations in Ireland. While offering our passengers the opportunity to discover the unique culture and tourism of İzmir, we continue to provide high-quality, safe, and attractive travel options.”
Full Support from Cork Airport: “Strong Demand”
Tara Finn, Director of Aviation Business Development and Communications at Cork Airport, expressed her satisfaction with the new service, stating:
“We are thrilled to welcome SunExpress’s inaugural flight from Cork to İzmir. Our market research showed there was strong demand for direct flights to Turkey. We are pleased to offer our passengers this unique travel option through our collaboration with SunExpress and truly believe the İzmir route will be a great success.”
With this launch, SunExpress became the ninth airline operating out of Cork Airport.
A New Bridge Between İzmir and Cork
Following the high demand for flights from Dublin to Antalya and Dalaman, the Cork–İzmir service is a strategic move by SunExpress to enhance access from Ireland to Turkey’s Aegean coast. At the same time, it opens up a vibrant European destination on Ireland’s southern coast for travellers departing from İzmir.
25% Capacity Increase in the UK and Ireland
SunExpress continues to grow in the UK and Irish markets for the 2025 summer season, increasing its seat capacity in the region by 25% compared to the previous year, offering approximately 2 million seats. In addition to new services launched in April to Glasgow and Liverpool, the Cork route is a key part of this expansion strategy.
Operating at a total of 13 airports in the UK and Ireland, SunExpress strengthens its presence by selecting 7 of its 15 new summer 2025 routes from this market.
