42 Years Since Its Foundation: The Story Of Sun Country Airlines (2024)

This year marks 42 years since Sun Country Airlines was founded. The US ultra-low-cost carrier has undergone several changes, including major bankruptcies and revivals. Today, the airline boasts a fleet of 54 aircraft, having established itself as a leisure carrier and cargo operator for Amazon, with a passenger route network stretching across the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The early years

Sun Country Airlines was established in June 1982 and is based at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP). The airline first took to the skies in January 1983 using a Boeing 727-200, and quickly entered the leisure market.

Many of the carrier's early employees came from Braniff Airlines, which had shut down earlier that year. In its early years, the airline operated dozens of 727s, as well as larger aircraft like the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 to serve the routes with the highest demand, such as Minneapolis to Las Vegas (LAS).

Photo: Aero Icarus | Wikimedia Commons

Less than a decade later, in 1991, Sun Country Airlines had drastically increased revenues and was looking to double its fleet and workforce. However, it soon began running into headwinds, and the first major blow came in the post-9/11 airline recession, which saw Sun Country Airlines suspend its operations in December 2001.

A series of different owners

Sun Country Airlines resumed operations in 2003 after investors purchased parts of the operation to keep the carrier afloat. The airline was able to bounce back quickly, deploying new Boeing 737-800s on many of its flights. This marked the airline's shift toward narrowbody aircraft, but it remained a full-service carrier for the time being.

However, the carrier continued to struggle financially, and, after being purchased by the Petters Group, it went bankrupt in the financial crisis of 2008. Following this development, the Davis Brothers subsequently purchased the airline in 2011.

Photo: natmac stock | Shutterstock

From 2011 to 2017, the airline saw a modest improvement in its revenues but also faced significant competition. Sun Country Airlines was forced to revamp its operation, and, with the entry of former Allegiant Air CEO Jude Bricker in 2017, the carrier became the ultra-low-cost carrier that it is today.

Image: Sun Country Airlines

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As an ultra-low-cost carrier, Sun Country Airlines offers three different types of economy class seats, known as Best, Exit Row, and Standard. One year later, the carrier launched Sun Country Rewards, its updated loyalty program, replacing the previous iteration known as Ufly.

Now in its 42nd year of operation

Bricker quickly executed the low-cost playbook for Sun Country, removing premium cabins and free bags, and increasing ancillary revenues. However, it did face backlash from local communities, which long saw the airline as a hometown favorite. While this slowed down the process slightly, Bricker's transformation continued and quickly boosted the airline.

In 2017, Apollo Global Management purchased Sun Country Airlines, with Bricker still leading, and revenue subsequently leaped to $709 million per year by 2019. However, perhaps the airline's most notable change is its partnership with Amazon, which saw the eCommerce giant purchase a stake in the airline to use its 737s for shipping across the US.

The Amazon partnership launched in May 2020, and allowed Sun Country Airlines to supplement seasonal leisure revenue and made its 2021 IPO possible at a time when airline stocks were still struggling. Last year, Sun Country Airlines was the 17th-largest airline in North America, with 4.1 million passengers.

Photo: Adam Moreira | Wikimedia Commons

Now in its 42nd year of operation, Sun Country Airlines looks very different from its previous iterations. Data from ch-aviation shows that the carrier's 54-strong fleet is currently made up of 42 Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft and 12 737-800BCF converted cargo aircraft. The airline also has a further two 737-800s and five 737-900ERs on order. Previously owned by Oman Air, they are due to arrive this year.

Sun Country Airlines' primary operating base is at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, where the carrier has a market share of around 10%. The airline faces competition at the airport on many of its routes from Delta Air Lines and its regional subsidiary Delta Connection.

Today, Sun Country Airlines' route network is made up of more than 100 routes between over 80 destinations across the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Many of the routes are served on a seasonal basis, responding to fluctuations in demand for leisure travel. The airline has interline agreements in place with a number of carriers, including:

• China Airlines
• Emirates
• Icelandair.

Despite suffering financially as a result of the pandemic, as many airlines around the world did, Sun Country Airlines' recovery has been strong, and the carrier has been back in profit since 2021. The airline recently recorded its most successful Q2 in six years, which you can read more about in our coverage below.

What do you think of Sun Country Airlines' varied history, transitioning from a full-service airline to an ultra-low-cost carrier? Have you flown on the airline over the years? Which route did you travel on? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.