Sun Country Airlines

File:Sun Country Airlines Logo 1998.svg

File:12ce - Sun Country Airlines DC-10-15; N153SY@MIA;31.01.1998 (5198220700).jpg at Miami International Airport in 1998.]]

Sun Country was incorporated on July 2, 1982.{{cite web|url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_mn/5315dd0e-b0d4-e011-a886-001ec94ffe7f|website=opencorporates.com|title=opencorporates Minnesota incorporation record for Sun Country Airlines, Inc.|publisher=opencorporeates|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2024}} It received its certificate of public necessity and convenience from the Civil Aeronautics Board on January 17, 1983.{{cite journal|volume=100|journal=Civil Aeronautics Board Reports|publisher=Civil Aeronautics Board|title=Sun Country Airlines, Fitness Investigation|pages=69–91|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32437000534103?urlappend=%3Bseq=96%3Bownerid=107296037-104|hdl=2027/osu.32437000534103|hdl-access=free|date=February–March 1983}} The company began offering charter service and the first revenue flight was on January 20, 1983, from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas, using a Boeing 727 aircraft leased from Air Florida.[https://www.newspapers.com/image/243626730 12 pilots grounded by Braniff shutdown start own airline, Sioux Falls (SD) Argus-Leader, 20 January 1983][https://www.newspapers.com/image/190583421 Ex-Braniff crew part of new charter airline, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 13 January 1983] The airline's original staff consisted of 16 pilots, 16 flight attendants, three mechanics, and one office person. Several of the original employees previously worked for Braniff International Airways, which ceased operations on May 12, 1982.{{cite web |url=https://www.suncountry.com/about |title=About Sun Country Airlines |website=www.suncountry.com |publisher=Sun Country Airlines}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.airportspotting.com/sun-country-airlines/|title=A look at Sun Country Airlines|first=Matt|last=Falcus|newspaper=Airport Spotting |date=July 28, 2013}} The company's founder and first President/CEO was Captain Jim Olsen, who also acted as Chief Pilot. His wife, Joan Smith-Olsen, acted as Chief Flight Attendant and Head of Inflight Operations.{{cite web | url = http://www.braniffpages.com/syhistory.html | title = Sun County Airlines | work = Braniff Pages | access-date = July 23, 2017 | archive-date = March 5, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305122549/http://www.braniffpages.com/syhistory.html | url-status = dead }}

In 1988, its headquarters were on the grounds of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport."World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 26, 1988. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%200805.html 117]. In 1995, Sun Country began offering scheduled flights from Minneapolis to several major cities. In 2001, the company suspended operations due to financial troubles.{{cite web|title=The Braniff/Sun Country Connection|url=http://www.thebranifffamily.org/suncountry.asp|publisher=The Braniff Family|access-date=February 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717092642/http://www.thebranifffamily.org/suncountry.asp|archive-date=July 17, 2012}} In 2006, the airline was acquired by Petters Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisors.{{cite press release|title=Petters Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisors Acquire Sun Country Airlines|publisher=Sun Country Airlines|date=October 31, 2006|url=http://www.suncountry.com/hometools/releases/PettersPurchase.shtml|access-date=January 21, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114193043/https://www.suncountry.com/hometools/releases/PettersPurchase.shtml|archive-date=November 14, 2006}}

Following the replacement of interim CEO Jay Salmen by Stan Gadek, former CFO of AirTran Airways, Sun Country was nearly finished by the major recession of 2008 and the revelation that Petters Group Worldwide was operating a $3.25 billion Ponzi scheme.{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/business/29902419.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002052906/http://www.startribune.com/business/29902419.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2008|title=Sept. 29: Sun Country workers face temporary 50% pay cut|first=Liz|last=Fedor|work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=September 28, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2008}}{{cite news |title=Tom Petters found guilty of Ponzi scheme fraud |first=Art |last=Hughes |work=Reuters |date=December 2, 2009 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN024978920091202/ |access-date=November 17, 2024}} The airline furloughed 45 of its 156 pilots and scaled back its summer schedule due to rising fuel costs. Sun Country indicated it had hoped to get up to $50 million in loans or other financial help from the state of Minnesota and the airports commission.{{cite news|url=http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S536806.shtml?cat=10728 |title=Sun Country asks MAC to help keep company flying |first=Nicole |last=Muehlhausen |work=KAAL |date=August 6, 2008 |access-date=October 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022000643/http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S536806.shtml?cat=10728 |archive-date=October 22, 2014 }} In September 2008 the carrier reduced, and in some cases eliminated, flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles. It also began charging for the first checked bag.{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_10413763|title=Sun Country trims flights, and fares push higher|date=September 8, 2008|access-date=April 28, 2013}} At the end of September, Gadek called for a 50% pay deferral to all remaining employees. Tom Petters resigned after an FBI probe discovered that the airline had suffered financial fraud on a massive scale.{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/29/business/NA-US-Petters-Investigation.php |title=Petters resigns amid fraud investigation|work=International Herald-Tribune | agency=Associated Press|date=September 30, 2008|access-date= October 6, 2008|first=Elizabeth |last=Dunbar}} The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time on October 6, 2008.{{cite news|first=Liz|last= Fedor|url=http://www.startribune.com/business/30525884.html|title=Sun Country Airlines files for bankruptcy |work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=October 6, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2008}}

In July 2011, Sun Country was bought out of bankruptcy for $34 million by the Davis family, owners of Cambria, a Minnesota-based countertop company.{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/business/125906638.html|author=David Phelps|title=Cambria deal gives new life to Sun Country|publisher=StarTribune|date=July 21, 2011|access-date=April 28, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cambria Holdings paid $34 million for Sun Country Airlines|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/latestnews/x541062656/Cambria-Holdings-paid-34-million-for-Sun-Country-Airlines|access-date=December 21, 2012|newspaper=The Mankato Free Press|date=August 3, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128031404/http://mankatofreepress.com/latestnews/x541062656/Cambria-Holdings-paid-34-million-for-Sun-Country-Airlines|archive-date=January 28, 2013}} Cambria CEO Marty Davis became chairman.

In 2015, the Sun Country board hired Zarir Erani as president and CEO.{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/sun-country-airlines-ceo-ousted-owner-davis-steps-in-as-he-seeks-successor-for-erani/432744483/ |title=Sun Country Airlines CEO Ousted; owner Davis steps in as he seeks successor for Erani |work=Star Tribune |last=Painter |first=Kristen Leigh |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=July 7, 2017}} The airline had a net income of $27 million in 2015, followed by a 41% drop to $16 million in 2016.

In July 2017, after more than a year of missed monthly earnings projections, Davis replaced Erani as interim President and CEO, with Erani moving to other duties within the Davis family of companies. Jude Bricker, previously of Allegiant Air, was appointed as CEO one week after Erani stepped down.{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/sun-country-names-new-ceo/433716563/|title=Sun Country names Jude Bricker as new CEO|last=Painter|first=Kristen|date=July 10, 2017|work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune}} As part of its strategy, Sun Country had begun to move toward being a "no-frills" airline.{{cite web |last1=Moseley |first1=Jace |title=Sun Country Airlines Sold to Investment Giant Apollo Global Management |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2017/12/16/sun-country-airlines-sold-to-investment-giant-apollo-global-management/ |website=airlinegeeks.com |date=December 16, 2017 |access-date=March 16, 2023}}

On December 14, 2017, the Davis brothers announced they would sell the airline to funds affiliated with New York Based Apollo Global Management for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web |title=Funds Managed by Affiliates of Apollo Global Management to Acquire Sun Country Airlines |url=https://www.apollo.com/stockholders/press-releases/2017/12-14-2017-140247234 |website=Apollo |access-date=April 8, 2020 |ref=1}}

On December 17, 2019, Amazon Air bought a minority stake in Sun Country from Apollo, with plans for the airline to operate cargo flights under the Amazon Air brand.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-looks-to-sun-country-to-boost-its-cargo-unit-11576621801|title=Amazon Looks to Sun Country to Boost Its Cargo Unit|last=Cameron|first=Doug|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=December 17, 2019 |access-date=December 19, 2019}} As Sun Country's passenger model is heavily leisure-focused, this deal is designed to help stabilize revenues during non-peak seasons. In December 2019 Sun Country announced it would begin operating cargo flights for Amazon. Sun Country initially operated ten cargo jets for Amazon Air.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/amazon-picks-low-cost-airline-sun-country-to-expand-its-cargo-business.html|title=Amazon picks low-cost airline Sun Country to expand its cargo business|last=Josephs|first=Leslie|date=December 18, 2019|website=CNBC |access-date=December 24, 2019}} The airline operated its first cargo flight for Amazon in May 2020.{{Cite web|title=Sun Country Airlines starts cargo operations for Amazon|url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/sun-country-airlines-starts-cargo-operations-for-amazon/|date=May 11, 2020|website=Air Cargo News |access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{Cite web|date=May 24, 2021|title=The Amazon and Sun Country Partnership|url=https://a2zblog.in/the-amazon-and-sun-country-partnership/|access-date=May 25, 2021|website=AVIATION A2Z }}

On March 17, 2021, Sun Country became publicly listed and traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker SNCY.{{cite news |last=Kilgore |first=Tomi |title=Sun Country Airlines' IPO prices above the expected range, to value company at more than $1.3 billion |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sun-country-airlines-ipo-prices-above-the-expected-range-to-value-company-at-more-than-13-billion-2021-03-17 |newspaper=Marketwatch |publisher=Dow Jones |access-date=May 16, 2021}}

As of June 2024, Sun Country's cargo fleet operated under contract with Amazon Air had grown to 12 airframes. On June 20, 2024, Sun Country and Amazon Air announced an extension of their contract to 2030. Under this new contract, Amazon Air will transfer an additional eight 737-800BCF aircraft to Sun Country, increasing the airline's cargo fleet to 20 airframes.{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2024 |title=Amazon transferring Boeing 737-800 cargo jets to Sun Country Airlines |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-transferring-boeing-737-800-141750529.html |access-date=June 23, 2024 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}

In February 2025, Apollo Global sold its remaining shares of the airline in a secondary public offering transaction.{{cite web|url= https://ir.suncountry.com/news-releases/news-release-details/sun-country-airlines-holdings-inc-announces-pricing-secondary-1 |title= Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. Announces Pricing of Secondary Public Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Share Repurchase|publisher=SunCountry.com|accessdate=June 1, 2025}}

Recent key figures for Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. (which include the passenger operations of Sun Country Airlines and its cargo business for Amazon Air) are (years ending December 31):

Sun Country previously offered two classes of service with First Class and Economy seats, but when the airline was sold to Apollo Global Management, it became an ultra-low-cost carrier with aircraft operated in an all-economy configuration. Sun Country now offers three variations of economy seats: Best, Exit Row, and Standard.[https://bookonboard.com/sun-country-baggage-fees/ The Sun Country Airlines Baggage Rules], Retrieved August 13, 2021{{Cite web |url=https://thriftytraveler.com/first-look-sun-country-new-smaller-seats/ |title=First Look at Sun Country's New, Smaller Seats |date=December 11, 2018 |website=Thrifty Traveler |access-date=February 26, 2019 }}

Sun Country Rewards, the airline's frequent-flyer program, was established in 2018, replacing an older program called Ufly.{{Cite web |url=https://thriftytraveler.com/sun-country-rewards-program-overhaul/ |title=Sun Country is Overhauling its Rewards Program: What You Need to Know |date=November 2, 2018 |website=Thrifty Traveler |access-date=November 2, 2018 }} In 2023, Sun Country was named the best low-cost carrier in North America at the Paris Airshow's World Airline Rankings.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Gita Sitaramiah Star |title=Sun Country Airlines named best low-cost airline in North America |url=https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-based-sun-country-airlines-named-best-low-cost-airline-north-america-delta-msp-airport/600284139/ |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=Star Tribune|date=June 21, 2023 }}

{{Main|List of Sun Country Airlines destinations}}

{{As of|2024|01}}, Sun Country Airlines flies to 81 destinations and operates more than 100 routes throughout the Caribbean, United States, Canada, Mexico and Central America.[http://www.suncountry.com/page/1/destinations.jsp Sun Country Airlines | Destinations], suncountry.com{{cite web |url=https://www.suncountry.com/route-map |title=Sun Country Destinations |website=SunCountry.com |publisher=Sun Country Airlines |date=March 20, 2019}} Many Sun Country destinations are seasonally served as demand grows and falls throughout the year.

The airline additionally provides charter service for the United States Armed Forces{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Sun-Country-Airlines-Company-History.html |title=Sun Country Airlines – Company History |website=FundingUniverse.com |access-date=June 13, 2010 }} and NCAA football teams.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2016/10/28/sun-country-ceo-future-growth-plans-travel-beyond.html |title=Sun Country CEO: Future Growth Plans Travel Beyond Leisure flights |website=BizJournals.com |access-date=March 20, 2019 }} The airline has provided charter service to Major League Soccer teams since 2020 and became the league's official carrier in 2022.{{cite news |last=Sitaramiah |first=Gita |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Sun Country Airlines to be official carrier of Major League Soccer |url=https://www.startribune.com/sun-country-airlines-to-be-official-carrier-of-major-league-soccer/600110383/ |work=Star-Tribune |accessdate=December 19, 2023}} Sun Country has a number of casino charter contracts.

Sun Country also has interline agreements with the following airlines:{{Cite web |url=https://suncountry.com/airline-partners |access-date=October 26, 2021 |title=Airline Partners |website=SunCountry.com }}

• China Airlines
• Condor
• Emirates
• EVA Air
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Icelandair

{{clear}}

File:Sun Country Airlines B737-800.jpg wearing the newest livery]]

File:Amazon Prime Air (Sun Country Airlines) Boeing 737-84P(BCF) N7901A approaching JFK Airport.jpg, with Sun Country titles behind the cockpit windows]]

{{As of|2025|07}}, Sun Country Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet composed of the following aircraft:

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