Eurowings appoints experienced aviation executive Max Kownatzki as CEO to guide next phase of growth
(IN SHORT) Max Kownatzki has officially started his role as CEO of Eurowings, Germany’s largest leisure airline, succeeding Jens Bischof who stepped down at the end of 2025, bringing with him extensive leadership experience from his previous tenure as CEO of SunExpress where he navigated the airline through the Covid crisis and led significant fleet and financial growth. On his first day, Kownatzki was welcomed at Eurowings’ Cologne/Bonn headquarters by fellow managing directors and employees, emphasizing his commitment to building on the airline’s strong customer service, value-for-money positioning, and sustainable profitability. His appointment also marks a return to familiar territory, given his earlier roles in founding Eurowings Europe and shaping business development, alongside a broader career spanning Oliver Wyman, Jetstar, and Lufthansa Group before taking the helm at SunExpress.
(PRESS RELEASE) DÜSSELDORF, Germany, 2026-Feb-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Eurowings has officially begun a new leadership chapter as Max Kownatzki took up his role as Chief Executive Officer on Monday, becoming head of Germany’s largest leisure airline. The 53-year-old executive joins Eurowings after leading SunExpress, the Lufthansa Group–Turkish Airlines joint venture, where he spent several years steering the carrier through a period of significant upheaval and subsequent expansion. He replaces Jens Bischof, who departed the position at the end of 2025 at his own request.
Kownatzki’s time at SunExpress was marked by both crisis management and growth. He guided the airline through the challenges of the Covid period, oversaw a major fleet expansion that saw the number of aircraft more than double to over 85, and later positioned the company on a strong upward trajectory that delivered record financial performance.
His first day at Eurowings began with a formal welcome gathering at the airline’s headquarters at Cologne/Bonn Airport. There, he was greeted by fellow managing directors Kai Duve and Edi Wolfensberger before meeting with employees across different departments. The event also gave him the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and engage in informal discussions with staff.
Reflecting on his new role, Kownatzki praised the progress Eurowings has made in recent years. He highlighted the airline’s commitment to high-quality customer service, competitive pricing, and sustainable profitability, stating that he looks forward to working closely with the team to shape the next stage of the company’s development.
Eurowings is not unfamiliar ground for Kownatzki. In 2015, he played a key role in establishing Eurowings Europe and served as its chief commercial officer before later taking on responsibility for business development at the airline. His earlier career includes senior leadership roles at Oliver Wyman, where he advised global airlines on strategy and alliances, followed by a position as chief strategy officer at Jetstar under Qantas Airways. In 2017, he moved to Lufthansa Group, where he oversaw network planning and strategic alliances for its hub airlines and joined the supervisory board of Air Dolomiti. He led SunExpress as CEO from April 2020 until his move to Eurowings.
Kownatzki holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. He is German-American, a licensed commercial pilot, and has two children.
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SOURCE: Eurowings
