Cork Airport has lost another European route, as SunExpress cancelled its planned summer service to Antalya, Turkey. The cancellation, announced recently, follows the earlier axing of Ryanair routes to Poznań and Gdansk in Poland, as well as Rome, Italy, earlier this year.
The direct flight to Antalya, a popular destination on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, was initially announced in June 2025 and was slated to operate between May 16 and October 24, 2026. The route had generated interest due to the growing number of Irish citizens travelling to Antalya for cosmetic and dental treatments, with the region offering significantly lower prices for procedures like hair transplants, dental implants, and veneers compared to Ireland.
Passengers with existing bookings on the cancelled Cork-Antalya service have been offered transfers to flights departing from Dublin Airport, or the option of a full refund, according to airport officials. Even as the Antalya route is no longer listed on the Cork Airport website, SunExpress will continue to operate flights to Izmir, Turkey, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The loss of the Antalya route is the latest in a series of service reductions at Cork Airport. In December 2025, Aer Lingus discontinued its service to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Yet, the airport has also added fresh destinations, including Nice, France, and Santiago, Spain, and extended its Prague service to operate year-round. A new Cork-Geneva service has also been added.
Despite the recent route cancellations, Cork Airport is currently experiencing a period of high passenger traffic. In the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day, the airport anticipates approximately 53,000 passengers will pass through security. According to Skyscanner, flights from Poznan (POZ) to Antalya (AYT) are currently available, with prices starting around $72. Ryanair also offers flights to destinations across Europe, and Kiwi.com lists flights from Poznań to Antalya starting at £65, with options from airlines including Ryanair, Pegasus, and SunExpress.
