My first encounter with Corendon Airlines was a couple of years ago at the World Travel Market in London. It was the last day and I noticed someone coming in the media room with a giant plane model in a bag too small to hide it. “They are still giving them away”, they told me, so off I went to find their stand. Glancing around, I couldn’t see any plane, but I still started a chat with one of the cabin crew manning the stand. After a few introductions and shared travel stories that created a small bond, I admitted the real reason I was there. With a large smile on her face, the flight attendant reached underneath the counter and handed me that giant plane model – which now stands proudly on my living room coffee table. Until that moment, I haven’t heard about Corendon. And until this year, I haven’t flown with them either. But in October, the latter changed.
While it’s a relatively new name in the UK, launching its first flights to Turkey in 2022, the airline has been flying holidaymakers across Europe for over two decades. With Antalya being one of its most popular routes, Corendon now operates several seasonal flights a week from London Gatwick, making it an increasingly common option for travellers heading to the Turkish Riviera.
When I booked flights from London Gatwick to Antalya and back, I was curious to see what the experience would be like, particularly as Corendon operates as a low-cost airline and has some very low attractive fare. Fares which someone likes me loves. Would it feel basic and no-frills, or more like a traditional holiday airline? Here’s my Corendon Airlines review.
Who Is Corendon Airlines?
Corendon Airlines is a Turkish leisure airline that has been operating for more than 20 years, primarily serving popular holiday destinations across Turkey and Greece. While many UK travellers are only just becoming familiar with the brand, it has long been a familiar name for German and Dutch holidaymakers and tour operators.
The airline focuses mainly on leisure routes, connecting cities across Europe with holiday destinations, with Antalya being one of its core bases. In many ways, Corendon sits somewhere between a classic charter airline and a modern low-cost carrier offering a basic fare structure, but with optional extras that feel more substantial than you might expect.
That balance became more obvious once I actually flew with them.
The Fares
Corendon Airlines operates on a low-cost model, meaning the base fare covers the essentials, with additional services available at an extra cost. During the booking process, it’s easy to see what’s included and what isn’t, which helps set expectations early on.
As with most low-cost airlines, things like checked baggage, seat selection and onboard meals aren’t automatically included in the cheapest fares. However, the pricing felt reasonable, particularly for a leisure route to a popular destination like Antalya. The difference between the three tiers is around £50, which is pretty good taking in consideration all the extras in the Premium option.
What stood out was that the fare structure didn’t feel overly complicated. You can keep costs down by sticking to the basics, or add extras depending on how you prefer to travel, something that works well for holiday flights where needs can vary.
There are three tiers of prices at Corendon:
- Eco, which includes one cabin baggage and one under the seat bag
- Flex, which includes one cabin bag, one under the seat bag, one check in bag, and free airport check in
- Premium, which includes all the above plus an extra check in bag, free seat selection, a hot meal, and priority check-in and boarding.
The Essentials
Even with the most basic fare, the essentials are covered. You get a standard seat, a carry-on bag, and a straightforward, no-fuss flight experience. With most low cost airlines in Europe charging for an onboard carry-on bag, I was happy to see that on Corendon it is free.
Corendon operates several weekly flights to Antalya out of Gatwick, from March until end of October, and having that regular schedule really helps with flexibility when planning a holiday. They also fly from Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Newcastle in the UK.
The Extras
Like most low-cost airlines, Corendon offers a range of optional extras, including seat selection, additional baggage and onboard meals.
One extra that immediately caught my attention during booking was the option to pre-book a hot meal. This isn’t always something you see with low-cost carriers, especially on medium-haul routes, and it suggested that Corendon leans more towards a leisure airline model than a strict budget setup.
Pre-booking meals also means you’re served first onboard, which is a small detail but a welcome one particularly if you’re hungry and don’t want to risk items selling out.
On Board
Stepping onboard, the cabin felt clean, tidy and well maintained. There was nothing particularly flashy about the interior, just rows of blue leather seats. I had the same seat on both flights, 17C – which I always go for as it’s above the wings.
The cabin was full on both legs of the journey, with a lot of young families with children, flying to Antalya for the half term holiday.
The legroom was the first thing I noticed once I settled into my seat. For a low-cost airline, Corendon felt surprisingly generous with space. It wasn’t first-class comfort, but it was noticeably more comfortable than I’ve found on some other budget carriers where I’ve felt knee-to-screen tightness within minutes of take-off.
The seats were quite thin but comfortable enough for the roughly four-and-a-half-hour flight to Antalya, and overall the cabin layout felt less crowded than I expected given the full passenger load.
Corendon Airlines Review
London Gatwick to Antalya
Check-in and boarding at London Gatwick were smooth, with no unnecessary complications. However, I managed to book my departure on the exact day the clocks changed. When I did my online check-in, I noticed that the flight changed from 3pm to 2:20pm. When I got to the airport, the flight was scheduled at 2pm, without any prior notice. Luckily I arrived with plenty of time to spare, but I wish there was a notice that the time has changed because the clocks went backwards the night before.
The outbound flight from London Gatwick to Antalya was smooth and comfortable from start to finish. Once airborne, the cabin settled quickly, and service began with meals being served to those who had pre-ordered.
Dinner on the outbound flight was a generous kebab platter, served with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. Alongside this was a fresh salad made up of tomatoes, cucumbers and corn.
On the side there were also warm bread rolls were served with a selection of cold cuts and cheese, followed by a chocolate mousse cake for dessert. For a low-cost airline, it was far more substantial than I had expected and certainly more filling than the snack-style options many budget carriers offer.
Everything was served hot, well presented, and felt thoughtfully put together.
Antalya to London Gatwick
The return flight to London Gatwick started with a run through Antalya Airport. I really wanted an extra half an hour by the beach, so I delayed my transfer back to the airport. This meant that I had to sprint through bag drop, security checks (and there are quite a few at this airport), and find my gate through the massive shopping mall the airport seems to be. I got to the gate with minutes to spare.
But, once again, the flight was comfortable even though quite bumpy this time, with efficient boarding and a relaxed atmosphere onboard.
Dinner on the return leg featured a steak meal, served with mash and vegetables, along with a fresh salad and cold cuts. Much like the outbound meal, it was filling and plentiful.
What I really Liked
- Surprisingly generous legroom for a low-cost airline
- Comfortable, smooth flights in both directions
- Option to pre-book proper hot meals
- Meals were substantial, well presented and filling
- Felt more like a traditional leisure airline than a strict budget carrier
What I Wasn’t Keen On
- Still a relatively unfamiliar airline for UK travellers
- Extras can add up, as with most low-cost airlines
- No inflight entertainment, so it’s best to bring your own
- The change of the flight time without prior warning
Conclusion
Corendon Airlines may not yet be a household name in the UK, but based on this experience, it’s an airline that deserves more attention, particularly for leisure routes like London Gatwick to Antalya.
While it operates as a low-cost carrier, the overall experience felt closer to that of a traditional holiday airline. The generous legroom and genuinely decent hot meals made the journey far more comfortable than I had expected.
If you’re looking for luxury, this probably isn’t the airline for you. But if you want a reliable, comfortable flight to a popular holiday destination with the option of a proper meal and a little extra space, Corendon Airlines ticks a lot of boxes.
Would I fly with them again? Yes, I would.
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