A little-known budget airline is expanding the number of routes it offers from the UK, allowing Brits to enjoy sunsoaked destinations for as little as £48 each way. SunExpress, which is a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, already operates from 13 airports across the UK and Ireland, although it’s much less well-known than rivals such as easyJet or Ryanair.
The airline’s current bases include Birmingham, London Luton, and Manchester, and in summer 2026, the airline will begin offering flights from the East Midlands to Antalya in Turkey three times a week, as well as adding new twice weekly routes from London Gatwick and Manchester to Bodrum on the Aegean coast.
From Ireland, there will be twice weekly flights from Cork to Antalya and a new service from Dublin to Dalman. Overall, this will add over two million seats to the airline’s capacity from the UK and Ireland and bring their offering up to 30 routes.
Antalya is one of the most popular destinations in Turkey for Brits, with long stretches of golden beach and turquoise waters. While it’s mostly a summer destination, it’s mild year-round, with late November set to bring temperatures between 19-24C.
In addition to the beaches, you can explore the historic Old Town (Kaleiçi) with its narrow roads, colourful homes, and spectacular Ottoman-era buildings. There’s also the remarkable Kekova Sunken City, which you can visit by boat. Once a thriving port town on a small island, earthquakes led to the buildings being pulled under the water, and you can sometimes spot them below the surface.
Antalya is also great for younger visitors, with family-friendly attractions such as the Land of Legends theme park. This vast entertainment complex includes Nickelodeon Land, a Waterfront Kingdom area with dolphin shows, and a waterpark. There’s also Aktur Park, which has a selection of rides and rollercoasters, as well as plenty for little kids to enjoy such as mini bumper cars.
Bodrum on Turkey’s Aegean coast is also a great choice for a sunshine holiday. Set on a peninsula, with sparkling blue waters surrounding it, Bodrum has a stylish marina areas with upmarket restaurants and cafes. There’s a huge selection of beaches, from small coves to larger, livelier areas, including some which have white sands and palm trees for a little bit of paradise.
During your stay, you can visit Bodrum Castle, an imposing fortress which holds the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. Here, you can learn about the many shipwrecks which have been salvaged in the area and see items dating back as far as the 4th-century.
To find out more about the new routes or book a SunExpress flight visit its official website. Prices start at £48 for a one-way flight from London Luton to Antalya.
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This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
