Sun Country Airlines is a hybrid ultra-low-cost carrier based at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) in Minnesota, with headquarters on airport grounds. Operating a fleet of 63 Boeing 737-NG aircraft (45 passenger, 12 cargo, 6 leased as of December 2024), the airline serves approximately 140 destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its business model integrates scheduled passenger services, charter flights, and cargo operations for Amazon Air, focusing on leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travelers. Sun Country employs a flexible resource-sharing strategy across its three business lines—passenger, charter, and cargo—to optimize capacity, reduce seasonality impacts, and achieve high margins. The airline offers three economy seat types (Best, Exit Row, Standard) and operates the Sun Country Rewards loyalty program, established in 2018. In 2023, it was named the best low-cost carrier in North America at the Paris Airshow’s World Airline Rankings. Sun Country is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker SNCY and is owned by Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Brief HistoryFounded in July 1982 by former Braniff International Airways employees, Sun Country began as a charter airline, with its first flight on January 20, 1983, from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas using a leased Boeing 727-200. Initially staffed by 16 pilots, 16 flight attendants, three mechanics, and one office worker, the airline partnered with MLT Vacations to target the leisure market. By 1986, it expanded with a leased Douglas DC-10 and additional 727s, serving sports teams and vacation routes. In 1988, Midwest banker B. John Barry acquired majority ownership. Sun Country transitioned to scheduled flights in 1995 and became a scheduled carrier in 1999, competing with Northwest Airlines.
The airline faced financial challenges, suspending operations in 2001 post-9/11 and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008 after a Ponzi scheme scandal involving owner Petters Group Worldwide. In 2011, the Davis family (Cambria) purchased Sun Country for $34 million, stabilizing it. Under CEO Jude Bricker (since 2017), the airline shifted to an ultra-low-cost model, eliminating first-class cabins and introducing ancillary fees. In 2019, Amazon Air acquired a minority stake, and Sun Country began cargo flights in 2020, growing to 12 cargo aircraft by 2024, with a contract extension to 2030 adding eight more. The airline went public in 2021, and Apollo Global Management sold its remaining shares in 2025. Sun Country reported record revenue of $1.05 billion in 2023 and has maintained profitability since 2021, ranking second among U.S. carriers in 2024.
Sun Country remains committed to its Minnesota roots, partnering with organizations like Make-A-Wish Minnesota, Minnesota Gopher Athletics, and the Minnesota Zoo, while supporting STEM and arts initiatives.
