Pegasus Airlines installs new CEO and CFO at Smartwings following takeover
Smartwings has appointed a new CEO and CFO following the confirmation that Pegasus Airlines has completed acquisition of Czech Airlines and Smartwings Group.
On October 2, 2026, Smartwings announced that it was “entering a new chapter with two new leadership appointments” to the team.
Emre Pekesen has been selected as the new CEO and Nur Karabacak as the CFO of Smartwings. The appointments became effective on October 1, 2026.
Pekesen joined Pegasus Airlines in 2010 as Sales Director and has served as Group Director of Sales and Network Planning since 2022.
Nur Karabacak joined Pegasus in 2018 as Investor Relations Manager and has served as Group Head of Budget, Reporting and Cost Control since 2019.
“We thank both for their valuable contributions to Pegasus over the years and wish them every success in their new roles at Smartwings,” the company wrote in a statement.
On October 1, 2026, Pegasus Airlines completed its acquisition of Czech Airlines and Smartwings Group, following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of customary closing conditions.
The combined fleet includes more than 175 aircraft, with existing firm orders covering 140 aircraft, already secured by both airlines.
Commenting on the completion of the transaction, Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, said: “Our story began with a dream of a world where everyone can fly, and today, Pegasus Airlines and Smartwings come together to take that ambition forward. Together we can grow further and offer our guests more choice than any of us could alone.
He added: “The people and relationships behind each airline are the reason I’m confident in what comes next, and we look forward to writing the next chapter together with all our colleagues.“
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The post Pegasus Airlines installs new CEO and CFO at Smartwings following takeover appeared first on AeroTime.
Smartwings has appointed a new CEO and CFO following the confirmation that Pegasus Airlines has completed acquisition of…
The post Pegasus Airlines installs new CEO and CFO at Smartwings following takeover appeared first on AeroTime.
