Leadership Changes at Eurowings and SunExpress Effective February 2026

International

Max Kownatzki to take over as CEO of Eurowings, Marcus Schnabel appointed CEO of SunExpress

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.