Max Kownatzki on Wednesday formally took charge as chief government officer of SunExpress, a three way partnership of Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) and German carrier Lufthansa.
“Despite the tough circumstances in the whole aviation business brought on by the pandemic, we are going to take SunExpress additional on its journey of success and strengthen its place as a number one carrier within the leisure airline market,” Kownatzki mentioned.
He mentioned the airline continues carrying these stranded because of the pandemic to their residence nations by way of “rescue” flights.
The aviation business has been hit arduous amid journey restrictions for each home and worldwide flights to stem the unfold of the virus.
“But we consider the aviation business will survive this disaster and even emerge from it stronger,” he mentioned.
He underlined that by making a bridge between Turkey and Europe, the airline will contribute to Turkish tourism and the economic system.
Kownatzki, 47, has intensive expertise within the airline business, with a specific concentrate on strategic and business areas. He was chargeable for community planning and strategic alliances of the Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Airlines and Austrian Airlines.
He succeeded Jens Bischof, who has been appointed CEO of one other airline, Eurowings.
SunExpress earlier halted all home and worldwide flights as a part of the journey restrictions to combat the outbreak. The firm suspended its flights from Turkey to Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Austria, the U.K., Switzerland and Ireland consistent with measures taken by Turkish authorities to guard public well being in opposition to the outbreak.
The airways mentioned Monday that it’s going to start restricted cargo flights with 18 plane in its fleet. It will start freighter operations with a brand new kind of cargo-carrying mannequin by using the passenger cabin to maximise the capability for cargo. The enterprise expects to have the ability to carry a most load of as much as 21,700 tons by with the ability to load passenger seats and overhead bins, along with the plane’s common cargo part.
Based within the coastal resort of Antalya, SunExpress in 2019 achieved the best income in its 30-year historical past. The agency’s income elevated by 10% in 2019 on a yearly foundation by producing a income of over 1.four billion euros (TL 10 billion) and carrying over 10 million passengers with a load issue of 83%.
Founded as a three way partnership of Turkish Airlines and Germany’s Lufthansa in 1989, SunExpress flies to greater than 90 locations in over 30 nations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
