TRIP REPORT: SunExpress, Skopje - Antalya

TRIP REPORT

Written by Matej Bandev

Trip Report: SKP-AYT-SKP

Flight Number: XQ 361/360

Date: 30/6/25

This trip was organised by Fibula, a Turkish travel agency with several offices across the Balkans. Fibula specialises in arranging holidays for individuals seeking to travel within Europe as well as to various destinations in Asia and Africa.

The total cost of the trip was approximately 600 euros per person, which covered flights from Skopje to Antalya and back, accommodation, and ground transportation between Antalya Airport and the hotel.

This was my first experience booking with Fibula, and I was highly impressed by their professionalism and excellent organisational skills.

The trip began at Skopje International Airport, where we arrived two hours prior to our scheduled departure. When traveling with SunExpress, it is important to note that online check-in is mandatory. Check-in opens 36 hours before departure and closes three hours prior; failing to check in online within this window results in a late check-in fee.

The aircraft for this flight was a brand-new Boeing 737-8 MAX, delivered to the airline in October 2024. The total flight time to Antalya was a brief 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Boarding took slightly longer than usual, primarily because only two staff members were assigned to check in passengers, and just one agent managed the boarding gate. Although he worked hard to scan all the boarding passes and direct passengers onto the jet bridge, the process appeared disorganised. Having at least one additional agent would have made boarding more efficient and professional.

Once onboard, the cabin crew were proactive in assisting passengers to their seats and preparing the cabin for departure. Despite the slow boarding process, we departed on time.

While taxiing to Runway 34, I noticed that all six gates at the main terminal were occupied, as well as five additional aircraft (mostly Wizz Air) parked at the old terminal. The majority of passengers were Macedonian tourists heading to Antalya, with some Turkish nationals returning home. This route appears quite popular during the summer, as two other charter flights - operated by Pegasus and Freebird - departed shortly after ours.

Shortly after take-off, the cabin crew began the inflight service. Snacks were available for purchase from the SunCafé menu, though as this was a midnight red-eye flight, I wasn’t hungry and didn’t review the menu (attached for reference). The crew completed the service promptly and prepared the cabin for arrival.

Upon arrival in Antalya, we parked on a remote stand, and a bus transferred us to the terminal, where we proceeded through passport control and collected our luggage. Outside the terminal, a Fibula representative was waiting to escort us to our hotel.

Our accommodation was at the Well Palace Hotel in Side, about an hour’s drive from the airport. We spent five wonderful nights there, and I was thoroughly impressed by the warm hospitality of the staff - a quality for which the Turkish people are well known.

A noteworthy observation during our stay was that many shop owners and staff in Side, especially in the streets and bazaars, spoke Russian, Serbian, German, and Polish fluently. However, English proficiency appeared limited, which at times made communication a bit challenging.

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