SunExpress has officially unveiled a special Crystal Palace F.C.-themed aircraft at London Gatwick Airport, marking a new milestone in the airline’s partnership with the South London football club.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered TC-SMF, was revealed during an airside ceremony at Gatwick’s South Terminal, attended by senior representatives from SunExpress, Crystal Palace and the airport, alongside media and invited stakeholders. Club legend Mark Bright was also present to witness the aircraft arriving in its new colours for the first time.
Named “The Eagle”, the bespoke livery was selected directly by Crystal Palace supporters earlier this year. Fans were invited to choose between two specially designed aircraft liveries, with the winning design – inspired by the club’s iconic crest and South London identity – securing 87 per cent of the vote. According to the club, the campaign generated the highest engagement ever recorded for a Crystal Palace partner activation and became the second most engaged online vote in the club’s history.
The aircraft will now operate across the SunExpress network, including regular services from Gatwick as the airline expands its UK footprint. From summer 2026, SunExpress plans to operate flights from a total of 12 airports across the UK and Ireland, connecting travellers to destinations across Europe and Türkiye.
Helmut Wölfel, Commercial Director at SunExpress, said the unveiling highlighted the airline’s commitment to the UK market. He said the partnership with Crystal Palace had focused on placing supporters at the centre of the collaboration, adding that the aircraft demonstrates SunExpress’ intention to continue strengthening its presence in London and across the UK.
Barry Webber, Chief Commercial Officer at Crystal Palace, described the aircraft as a striking symbol of the club’s partnership with the airline. He noted the scale of fan engagement in selecting the design and said the project reflected both the strong sense of community among Palace supporters and the club’s growing international profile.
A joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, SunExpress operates a network of around 250 routes serving 106 destinations in 37 countries. The carrier has a strong presence on the Turkish Riviera and across Anatolia, offering flights that support leisure travel, cultural and archaeological tourism, culinary experiences and sports-related travel.