Cork Airport Faces Route Cuts as SunExpress Cancels Antalya Flight

Cork Airport is experiencing a series of route cancellations, with SunExpress being the latest airline to pull back services. The airline has cancelled its planned summer route to Antalya, Turkey, despite initial announcements last June. This follows previous cuts by Ryanair to routes serving Polish cities Poznań and Gdańsk, as well as Rome, announced in January, and the axing of Aer Lingus’s service to Dubrovnik in December.

SunExpress Cancels Highly Anticipated Antalya Route

The direct flight to Antalya, Turkey, from Cork Airport, scheduled to begin on May 16, 2026, and run through October 24, has been cancelled by SunExpress. The route had generated interest, particularly among those seeking cosmetic and dental treatments in Turkey, where costs are significantly lower than in Ireland. Passengers with existing bookings have been transferred to flights departing from Dublin, with the option to receive a full refund.

Continued Service to Izmir

Despite the cancellation of the Antalya route, SunExpress will continue to operate flights to Izmir, Turkey, from Cork Airport on Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Other Route Changes at Cork Airport

The cancellations come amidst other changes to Cork Airport’s route network. While the Antalya route has been removed from the airport’s website, new destinations such as Nice and Santiago have been added. The Cork-Geneva service has been added, and the route to Prague has been extended to operate year-round, having previously been a winter-only service.

Passenger Numbers Remain Strong

Despite the route adjustments, Cork Airport is currently experiencing high passenger traffic, with up to 53,000 people expected to pass through security in the lead-up to St. Patrick’s Day.