Max Kownatzki is now in charge of Eurowings. Eurowings is an airline in Germany. It is also an important part of the Lufthansa Group. This change is a deal for Eurowings and for the European aviation sector. Max Kownatzki is the Chief Executive Officer of Eurowings. He has a lot of work to do. Eurowings is Germanys leisure airline. The Lufthansa Group is very important, to Eurowings.

From SunExpress to Eurowings: A Strategic Leadership Transition

On 1 February 2026 Max Kownatzki started his job as the CEO of Eurowings. He took over from Jens Bischof, who was the leader of Eurowings for over five years. Jens Bischof decided to step down from his position.

Max Kownatzki becoming the CEO of Eurowings shows that the Lufthansa Group wants to keep doing things in a way. The Lufthansa Group also wants Eurowings to be really good at what it does and be able to compete with airlines in Europe. Eurowings is one of the short-haul airlines, in Europe.

Before Kownatzki joined Eurowings he was the boss of SunExpress. SunExpress is a Turkish airline that Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines own together. He worked at SunExpress from April 2020 to January 2026. When Kownatzki was, at SunExpress he helped the airline get through the COVID-19 pandemic. He made sure SunExpress was ready to grow in a way. This helped SunExpress get planes and make a lot of money.

A Deep Aviation Background

Kownatzki has been working in aviation for than twenty years. He started out at a company called Oliver Wyman, where he worked on things like airline alliances and how to make money. Then he got some jobs in the industry like being in charge of strategy at Jetstar Group and planning things at Lufthansa Groups main airlines. One thing that really stands out is that he helped start Eurowings Europe in 2015 and was in charge of things. This was a time before he became the CEO, which is a pretty cool connection that has come full circle for Kownatzki and his career, in aviation.

The University of St. Gallen in Switzerland is where he got his business degree and did his studies. He also has a pilots license from the University of St. Gallen. This is an unusual combination. The University of St. Gallen helped him get operational and strategic expertise in airline leadership. The University of St. Gallen and his pilots license make him very knowledgeable, about airlines.

Vision for Eurowings’ Future

Kownatzki is now in charge at Eurowings. This is a deal because the European airline industry is going through a lot of changes. People want to travel in ways now. The airlines are also feeling the pinch because it costs a lot to run them and they have to compete with each other.

Kownatzki will make sure Eurowings makes a profit that the customers are happy and that the flights are on time. Eurowings will still be a airline that people choose when they want to have a time, in Europe without spending too much money. Eurowings is a value-oriented leisure carrier. It will stay that way.

People who watch the industry say that this change in leadership is part of a trend. This trend is about companies being able to adapt and make their plans better. This is especially true for phone companies. They want to balance getting on track after the pandemic with planning for growth in the long term. The leadership change is a way for these companies, like the phone companies to do this.

Looking Ahead

As CEO, Max Kownatzki brings to Eurowings a blend of deep industry experience, strategic vision and a track record of guiding carriers through complex challenges. His leadership promises to shape the airline’s next chapter — strengthening its competitive position within Europe’s aviation landscape while preserving its appeal to travellers seeking reliable, affordable flight options