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At a Glance...
SunExpress is an award-winning Turkish-German airline founded in 1989 in Antalya, Türkiye. Formed through a strategic partnership between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, SunExpress provides direct flights connecting Europe and Türkiye.
In 2023, the airline needed to rapidly onboard more permanent Captains to support its expanding operations and sought the expertise of AeroProfessional for pilot recruitment. The collaboration was designed to address the airline’s immediate staffing requirements while ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality service to its passengers.
The tailored pilot recruitment campaign delivered exceptional results for SunExpress, achieving a 100% offer acceptance rate from selected candidates.
The Situation...
SunExpress ordered 50 new B737 aircraft in 2014, with 18 already delivered. As the airline awaited the arrival of the remaining aircraft, it needed to recruit both Type-Rated and Non-Type-Rated B737 pilots to join the airline on a permanent basis. Recognising how time-consuming the pilot recruitment and assessment process can be, SunExpress partnered with aviation recruitment specialist AeroProfessional to support the campaign.
AeroProfessional is a specialist consultancy focused on aviation recruitment. Over the years it has built a global candidate network of more than 30,000 aviation professionals, including pilots, cabin crew and engineers. This established network provided SunExpress with access to experienced B737 pilots actively seeking new opportunities.
In Autumn 2023, SunExpress partnered with AeroProfessional to recruit Type-Rated and Non-Type-Rated B737 pilots, all of whom would be required to permanently relocate for the role. AeroProfessional developed a targeted recruitment campaign designed to attract qualified candidates while ensuring applicants clearly understood the relocation and operational requirements of the position.
The Solution...
AeroProfessional conducted a number of SunExpress-branded marketing campaigns through its bespoke client portal, separately targeting Type-Rated and Non-Type-Rated B737 Captains, as well as pilots open to relocation. The airline remained closely involved throughout the process, monitoring campaign performance and candidate interest alongside the AeroProfessional team.
AeroProfessional targeted Non-Type-Rated candidates based on defined criteria, including total jet time and experience on aircraft above a specified maximum take-off weight. The campaign combined access to AeroProfessional’s internal database with its wider candidate network, enabling direct outreach to more than 100,000 European pilots. Full details of the qualification criteria and experience requirements were provided to all applicants.
As the positions required relocation, AeroProfessional launched targeted campaigns designed to increase interest in the destination while providing clear information about living and working in the region. A detailed briefing pack was also developed to address common questions and counter misconceptions about relocating overseas.
The Results...
AeroProfessional’s candidate care process helped significantly reduce attrition throughout SunExpress’s recruitment campaign. Continuous communication with candidates during the selection and assessment stages ensured applicants remained engaged and committed to joining the airline.
AeroProfessional’s recruitment specialists screened and interviewed hundreds of shortlisted candidates to confirm they met the required experience and terms of employment. This structured selection process delivered a 100% offer acceptance rate among candidates who were successfully selected for the roles.
The assessment process included verification of technical qualifications, technical assessments, and the required security checks to ensure full compliance with aviation industry standards.
SunExpress recognised the success of the campaign and named AeroProfessional its most successful recruitment partner during the 2023/2024 campaign, highlighting the effectiveness of the structured pilot recruitment process.
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Empower
Growth
It was a pleasure to collaborate with SunExpress on their recent B737 Captain recruitment. Supporting clients who are so aligned with our objectives and processes brings us great satisfaction. Given the unprecedented competitive market for B737 Captains, SunExpress recognised the need to adapt their hiring strategy and widen the net to include Non-Type-Rated Captains. This more flexible approach enabled them to find the best candidates with great success. As a result, we were delighted to have concluded the hiring process ahead of schedule in early January 2024.
Dean O'Sullivan
Associate Director
AeroProfessional
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The journey of recruiting top-tier talent is often turbulent, yet the collaboration between SunExpress and AeroProfessional soared above expectations, proving that when expertise meets ambition, the sky is truly the limit.
Yiğid Acar
Head of HRBP
SunExpress
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