Tourexpi
Leadership Changes at Eurowings and SunExpress Effective February 2026
Lufthansa Group has announced changes at the top of
its leisure airline brands Eurowings and SunExpress. As of 1 February 2026, Max
Kownatzki will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of Eurowings, while
Marcus Schnabel will become Chief Executive Officer of SunExpress. Both
appointments are part of a planned succession within the Group.
Max Kownatzki moves to Eurowings
Max Kownatzki, currently CEO of SunExpress, will
succeed Jens Bischof as CEO of Eurowings. Bischof will step down at the end of
the year after more than five years at the helm of Eurowings and a career
spanning over 35 years in senior roles within the Lufthansa Group. Under his
leadership, Eurowings developed into Germany’s leading leisure airline in the
point-to-point market and achieved a return to profitability.
Kownatzki brings extensive experience within the
Lufthansa Group and detailed knowledge of Eurowings. He previously served as
Chief Commercial Officer of Eurowings Europe and later held senior
responsibility for the brand’s business development. Since April 2020, he has
led SunExpress through a period marked by crisis recovery and sustainable
growth.
Marcus Schnabel to lead SunExpress
Marcus Schnabel will take over as CEO of SunExpress on
1 February 2026. He joins from Lufthansa Airlines, where he has been
responsible for Ground Operations and has served as Deputy Head of the Munich
hub since 2024. His career within the Lufthansa Group spans two decades and
includes leadership roles in flight and ground operations, safety and security,
and operational planning at SWISS in Zurich.
Group perspective on the appointments
Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of
Deutsche Lufthansa AG, emphasised the strategic importance of the leadership
changes. He highlighted Jens Bischof’s role in reshaping Eurowings and guiding
the airline onto a profitable path, and expressed confidence in Max Kownatzki’s
ability to continue this course. Spohr also pointed to Marcus Schnabel’s
operational expertise and leadership experience as key assets for SunExpress
during its next phase of growth, noting that both positions have been filled
from within the Group’s own ranks.
Background
SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and
Turkish Airlines, operates as a leisure carrier focused on tourism flows
between Türkiye and Europe. Eurowings is Lufthansa Group’s point-to-point
airline, serving leisure and business travellers across a growing European
network.
Image
Credit: © Lufthansa Group
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