A Lifetime in the Skies: Honoring Captain Atilla Erdoğdu’s Flight Career and New Chapter

In aviation, certain milestones transcend standard career achievements. They represent decades of discipline, unwavering dedication to flight safety, and a deep passion for aviation. Yesterday, we marked one such extraordinary milestone at SunExpress as we celebrated the active flying jubilee of one of our most respected aviators, Captain Atilla Erdoğdu.

Captain Erdoğdu’s journey in aviation spans an incredible 43 years and over 19,350 flight hours. For 23 of those years, he has been a vital pillar of the SunExpress family, joining us in 2003 and contributing extensively to our flight operations.

Following his final active scheduled flight on August 19 (XQ 9190/91), we welcomed him on the apron with the aviation tradition he so thoroughly earned, followed by a celebratory gathering at our İzmir Briefing Office to express our collective gratitude.

Having had the privilege of working closely with Captain Erdoğdu during my management tenure—while he was part of the İzmir Cockpit Management team—I witnessed firsthand the leadership, calm precision, and mentorship he brought to the flight deck. For junior pilots and management alike, he has always embodied the very standard of aviation professionalism and peer trust.

While Captain Erdoğdu has officially hung up his active flight wings, we are fortunate that his journey with SunExpress is far from over. He will continue to serve as a Flight Instructor, ensuring that his four decades of expertise, standard operating discipline, and institutional knowledge are passed on to future generations of pilots.

To Captain Erdoğdu: thank you for 43 remarkable years in the air, 23 years of loyalty to SunExpress, and your lasting impact on Turkish civil aviation. We wish you continued success as you shape the aviators of tomorrow.