Leeds Bradford: Sun Express Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[LBAYORKIE]

Sad to see Sun Express having to cut back so big, they were doing so well out of Leeds as I’ve used them last 2x years down to Antalya.

The is only one person to blame for this loss and that’s the orange haired president of the USA for his War & blockade against Iran.

I thinks its more to do with inflation in Turkey. Its no longer a cheap place to go on holiday

 

[Jerry]

I thinks its more to do with inflation in Turkey. Its no longer a cheap place to go on holiday

The price of fuel doubling won't have helped either.

 

[White Heather]

Weren't TUi using these flights since they dumped Freebird? If so, it leaves their customers once again being 'consolidated' to MAN. Quel surprise!!

 

[LBA4EVER]

Weren't TUi using these flights since they dumped Freebird? If so, it leaves their customers once again being 'consolidated' to MAN. Quel surprise!!

To me this dont add up with sunexpress, to go from x5 flights per week to nothing is very strange. Id of thought a reduced service say 2 or 3 flights per week, are loads really that bad? As per its the orange man getting the blame again but there are certainly other factors at play for sure

 

[White Heather]

There is an article elsewhere, posted by Aviador, which states clearly that the problem with Turkey is economic, with rspidly rising inflation, food prices, and significantly less demand. They have clearly decided to cut their losses and write this summer off, but at what cost to Sun Express, whose existence is to cater for the tourist trade? Their reputation will take a hammering as well as their bank balance.

Personally I consider the orange man as the devil incarnate, but whilst his actions haven't caused the drop in demand, they have certainly caused the rapid increase in jet fuel costs and the potential shortage too, so its probably a perfect storm for Sun Express. Rapid drop in demand coupled with equally rapid increase in jet fuel. They may have hedged their fuel but may not, or perhaps they foresee having to pay the higher prices later in the summer and have no indication that demand will increase.

I have seen several Sun Express flights depart this summer and all have rotated much earlier than normal for a flight to Antalya with a decent load.

 

[Aviador]

Inflation in Turkey is reportedly running at 32% rising at over 4% monthly.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

There is an article elsewhere, posted by Aviador, which states clearly that the problem with Turkey is economic, with rspidly rising inflation, food prices, and significantly less demand. They have clearly decided to cut their losses and write this summer off, but at what cost to Sun Express, whose existence is to cater for the tourist trade? Their reputation will take a hammering as well as their bank balance.

Personally I consider the orange man as the devil incarnate, but whilst his actions haven't caused the drop in demand, they have certainly caused the rapid increase in jet fuel costs and the potential shortage too, so its probably a perfect storm for Sun Express. Rapid drop in demand coupled with equally rapid increase in jet fuel. They may have hedged their fuel but may not, or perhaps they foresee having to pay the higher prices later in the summer and have no indication that demand will increase.

I have seen several Sun Express flights depart this summer and all have rotated much earlier than normal for a flight to Antalya with a decent load.

I dont think the trend towards late booking helps either.

 

[rollo]

Inflation in Turkey is reportedly running at 32% rising at over 4% monthly.

Inflation in Turkey in 2024 was 58%, 2025 35% and this year currently 32% it peaked at one point in 2024 at75% it was bound to catch up with tourism at some point and of course the meglamainiac in the White House is no help at all.

 

[Finger66]

Heard Sun Express are consolidating all UK ops at DSA! So that isn't going to be changing the situation much for them!

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

There is an article elsewhere, posted by Aviador, which states clearly that the problem with Turkey is economic, with rspidly rising inflation, food prices, and significantly less demand. They have clearly decided to cut their losses and write this summer off, but at what cost to Sun Express, whose existence is to cater for the tourist trade? Their reputation will take a hammering as well as their bank balance.

Personally I consider the orange man as the devil incarnate, but whilst his actions haven't caused the drop in demand, they have certainly caused the rapid increase in jet fuel costs and the potential shortage too, so its probably a perfect storm for Sun Express. Rapid drop in demand coupled with equally rapid increase in jet fuel. They may have hedged their fuel but may not, or perhaps they foresee having to pay the higher prices later in the summer and have no indication that demand will increase.

I have seen several Sun Express flights depart this summer and all have rotated much earlier than normal for a flight to Antalya with a decent load.

It's more to do with the rising inflation and the British who used to regularly holiday there suddenly not finding it is as cheap.

Yes the current political situation will not help but I would say it's not to do with the fuel but more the British thinking that Iran will go for Turkey.

I mean BN has already come out and said Turkey is their next target. So if you consider the orange man as the devil incarnate - BN the walking living breathing Satan.

 

[lbaspotter]

I see Leeds/Bradford has been removed from the drop down menu on Sun Express App now along with those 3x flights which were bookable in March 2027.

 

[752]

I see Leeds/Bradford has been removed from the drop down menu on Sun Express App now along with those 3x flights which were bookable in March 2027.

Disappointing.

I think the small positives we can take away (if we class it as positive)

That EMA was a non starter for Sun Express, LPL got the axe last year. LBA must have been holding its down and grew from x3 weekly to x5 planned this summer.

It’s no doubt they as every other airline consolidated into MAN. To overall improve MAN. Frustrating.

Hope another Turkish carrier gives LBA a go.

 

[Aviador]

The absolute best asset LBA’s route development team has right now is the historic booking data from SunExpress. They don't have to pitch a theoretical route to other airlines as they have hard proof that Leeds to Turkey demand was robust enough to scale from 3x to 5x weekly with SunExpress.

The airport should immediately take those exact load factor and yield metrics to carriers like Pegasus, Corendon, or AJet. They can say, "Look at this data the passengers are already there"

 

[White Heather]

The absolute best asset LBA’s route development team has right now is the historic booking data from SunExpress. They don't have to pitch a theoretical route to other airlines as they have hard proof that Leeds to Turkey demand was robust enough to scale from 3x to 5x weekly with SunExpress.

The airport should immediately take those exact load factor and yield metrics to carriers like Pegasus, Corendon, or AJet. They can say, "Look at this data the passengers are already there"

As per my ACC report, LBA had been on the phone to one of these that very morning regarding picking up the Antalya route. The problem of course is if they operate from MAN too, which 2 of them definitely do. They wont want LBA to negatively impact their MAN loads would they? Same old story every time. So frustrating!!

 

[Finger66]

The plus here though is for any airline being prepared to take a slight gamble on LBA, then that airline would be able to steal a march on its competitors, especially when the market recovers - which I am sure it will. Also less competition overall from LBA and with data to prove the point........ .

 

[Aviador]

As per my ACC report, LBA had been on the phone to one of these that very morning regarding picking up the Antalya route. The problem of course is if they operate from MAN too, which 2 of them definitely do. They wont want LBA to negatively impact their MAN loads would they? Same old story every time. So frustrating!!

Yet airlines won't think twice about doing it the other way around. It is so frustrating that airlines feel "they need to be there" when the reality is despite good loads they almost certainly have diluted yields at Manchester.

 

[mullion]

That is the same as MAN used to find with LGW for years

 

[gulftraveller]

Yet airlines won't think twice about doing it the other way around. It is so frustrating that airlines feel "they need to be there" when the reality is despite good loads they almost certainly have diluted yields at Manchester.

Why would the yields be diluted when these are, essentially, IT flights rather than stand alone scheduled flights? If people do not buy the holidays, the flights will go elsewhere.

 

[lbaspotter]

Plenty of Turkish based operators whom could potentially take up the Sun Express slack,

Corendon Airlines, Pegasus, Freebird, Southend Airlines, Ajet & Mavi Gok to name but a few

 

[SierraHotel]

Weren"t Southwind airlines on the brink of launching sevices from LBA last year?