Smartwings names new CEO and CFO after Pegasus completes takeover

Smartwings has named a new chief executive and chief financial officer, days after Pegasus Airlines confirmed it had completed its purchase of the Czech Airlines and Smartwings Group. The appointments took effect on October 1, 2026, and were announced the following day.

Emre Pekesen becomes CEO. He joined Pegasus in 2010 as sales director and has been group director of sales and network planning since 2022. Nur Karabacak is the new CFO. She arrived at Pegasus in 2018 as investor relations manager and served as group head of budget, reporting and cost control from 2019.

The company thanked both for their work at Pegasus and wished them success in the new positions.

The ownership change closed on October 1, 2026, once all required regulatory approvals were received and customary closing conditions were met. According to the airline, the combined fleet numbers more than 175 aircraft, with firm orders already secured by the two carriers covering a further 140 planes.

Pegasus CEO Güliz Öztürk said the deal brings the two airlines together to build on the ambition of making flying available to more people, adding that growth would allow them to offer passengers more choice. The people and relationships behind each airline, Öztürk said, were the basis for confidence in what comes next.