Corendon aims to grow with Egypt offer in winter

Holiday airline Corendon Airlines is adding Sharm el Sheikh as a new destination for the winter season. The Egyptian destination will be served twice weekly from Düsseldorf, Hanover, and Nuremberg. The Turkish-Dutch airline is also increasing its service to Hurghada to daily flights from Düsseldorf. Marsa Alam will remain in the program as the third Egyptian destination.

The new aircraft were unveiled at a gala celebrating Corendon's 20th anniversary. Company founder and CEO Yildiray Karaer and German CEO Christian Hein used the occasion to highlight the airline's strategic development. In summer 2025, Corendon will operate with a fleet of 32 of its own aircraft, plus additional capacity from wet-lease partners. The route network includes destinations in Turkey, Spain, Greece, and Egypt.

Greater concentration on core airports in the future

While Corendon will be operating from 18 German airports in summer 2025, Kassel and Bremen were previously removed from the flight schedule. The airline is thus focusing more on its main bases in Düsseldorf, Hanover, Cologne/Bonn, and Nuremberg. Aircraft with a European Air Operator Certificate (AOC) are stationed there. This allows Corendon to flexibly serve destinations outside of Turkey within the EU.

In Egypt, Corendon already operates its own base in Hurghada. "We're looking forward to the new connection, as Egypt is doing really well," explains Paul Schwaiger, who recently took over as Chief Commercial Officer responsible for sales. The new Sharm el-Sheikh route faces existing competition in the market – particularly Tuifly. The latter plans to fly from Hanover on Mondays and Thursdays this winter. Corendon will offer flights on Tuesdays and Fridays, thus creating a complementary offering for travelers from Lower Saxony.

Anniversary campaign with 20,000 discounted tickets

To mark its 20th anniversary, Corendon launched a special promotion on May 20. 20,000 airline tickets are being offered with a 20 percent discount or a fixed price of €20 – depending on the sales channel. The promotion runs until the end of May and is valid for selected routes. Celebrations are also taking place on board: Passengers can pre-order a special anniversary menu. For €20, they receive a high-quality hot meal including a cocktail. The special menu can also be booked online.

In addition to its traditional medium-haul business, the Corendon Group also operates long-haul flights. The Caribbean island of Curaçao is served from Amsterdam with an Airbus A350 under wet lease. The group operates its own Corendon Hotel on site. The service is primarily aimed at Dutch customers, but according to Schwaiger, it is also occasionally used by German travelers. In addition to the airlines in Turkey, Germany, and the Netherlands, the Corendon Group also operates its own hotels and acts as a tour operator with its own programs. Management emphasizes that this vertical integration is a decisive competitive advantage.

Hein Vogel