Onur Air Taşımacılık A.Ş. was established on April 14, 1992, in Istanbul by Hayri İçli, Ünsal Tülbençi, and Hamit Cankut Bagana. The company began operations as one of the first private airlines to adopt the economic-class transportation model. Its inaugural flight was conducted on May 14, 1992, using an Airbus A-320 to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In its early years, Onur Air took significant steps to expand its fleet and meet the growing demand.

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In the 1990s, Onur Air expanded its fleet by acquiring models from major aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and McDonnell Douglas. By 1997, the company had reached a fleet size of 16 aircraft with a seating capacity of 3,503. It also increased its international flights, serving various destinations across Europe.

Growing Fleet and Competition

In the early 2000s, Onur Air became a significant player in the aviation industry. With the liberalization of domestic air transportation for the private sector, the company established an extensive flight network and became one of the pioneers of the low-cost transportation model in Turkey. By increasing the number of aircraft in its fleet, the company reached a total of 31 aircraft and a seating capacity of 7,012 by 2006. Between 1992 and 2020, Onur Air successfully transported over 100 million passengers.

By 2018, Onur Air’s fleet consisted entirely of 33 Airbus aircraft. However, growing competition and increasing financial burdens placed the company under considerable strain.

Economic Challenges and the Impact of the Pandemic

From the mid-2000s onwards, rising fuel prices, the global economic crisis, and intense competition in the sector negatively impacted Onur Air’s financial situation. The COVID-19 pandemic added further pressure to the company. From March 25, 2020, all flights were suspended, and operations were limited to cargo transportation. The pandemic caused the company to lose major clients such as Saudi Arabian Airlines and withdraw from domestic routes.

Due to the financial crisis, the company could no longer pay its employees from 2020 onwards. Despite attempts by the management to find partners to address the financial issues, these efforts were unsuccessful.

Suspension of License and Bankruptcy

Onur Air’s flight license was initially suspended by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on September 21, 2021. Although the DGCA granted several extensions to resolve the company’s financial problems, Onur Air failed to take advantage of these opportunities. In 2023, the license was permanently revoked.

During this period, some aircraft in the company’s fleet were sold to recover debts. In 2022, an Airbus A321 was auctioned online for 80 million Turkish Liras.

Onur Air held a significant position with its cost advantages in economic-class flights and its extensive destination network. However, financial challenges and management errors led to its downfall. Despite receiving multiple "Best Company" awards from Airbus over the years, Onur Air managed to transport more than 100 million passengers during its service period.