SunExpress was founded in 1989 as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, with the aim of boosting tourism between Europe and Turkey. The airline initially focused on charter flights, particularly bringing European tourists to popular Turkish destinations.

Over time, SunExpress expanded into scheduled services and built a strong presence in leisure travel, especially to coastal cities like Antalya. It also developed a network of routes connecting Turkey with numerous European countries, as well as some domestic services within Turkey.

Today, SunExpress operates as a key leisure airline, known for its focus on holiday destinations, efficient operations, and its role in linking Turkey with major European markets while continuing to grow its fleet and route network.