Crystal Palace and SunExpress Unveil Fan-Designed Aircraft ‘The Eagle’.

Roger Hampel

Image: Crystal Palace

SunExpress Airlines has unveiled a Crystal Palace-themed aircraft, marking a new stage in the airline’s partnership with the Premier League club. The aircraft, named “The Eagle,” was presented at London Gatwick Airport during a dedicated ceremony involving executives from SunExpress, Crystal Palace FC and Gatwick Airport, alongside club legend Mark Bright. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration TC-SMF) will now operate across the SunExpress route network, carrying Crystal Palace branding to destinations across Europe and Türkiye.

Fan Vote Determines Aircraft Design Crystal Palace

The aircraft’s visual design was chosen through a fan vote organised earlier this year, with supporters selecting between two proposed liveries. “The Eagle” design — inspired by Crystal Palace’s crest and South London identity — won 87% of the vote, according to the club.

The campaign generated the highest engagement ever recorded for a Crystal Palace partner activation and became the second most participated online vote in the club’s history, demonstrating the effectiveness of supporter-driven marketing initiatives. Such fan voting campaigns have become a common engagement tool in sports sponsorships, allowing brands to involve supporters directly in campaign development while increasing social media interaction.

Image: Crystal Palace

Airline Branding Expands Club Visibility Internationally

The aircraft will operate across SunExpress’s network, including routes from London Gatwick and 11 additional airports across the UK and Ireland starting from summer 2026. As the plane travels across the airline’s route system, Crystal Palace branding will appear across multiple international markets, effectively turning the aircraft into a mobile marketing platform for the club’s global visibility. SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, operates more than 250 routes connecting 106 destinations in 37 countries.

Executive Comments

Helmut Wölfel, Commercial Director at SunExpress Airlines, said the project reflects the airline’s focus on supporter engagement and the UK market.

“Since its launch last year, this partnership has been about putting supporters at the heart of what we do and creating something authentic to the club and its community.”

Barry Webber, Chief Commercial Officer at Crystal Palace FC, highlighted the scale of fan participation in the campaign.

“The scale of engagement around the vote was extraordinary and shows the strength of the Palace community. ‘The Eagle’ is a bold statement about our identity as a South London club and our growing international reach.”