Summary
- Sun Country Airlines is adding eight new domestic routes, offering seasonal nonstop flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to cities such as Albuquerque, Boise, and Syracuse.
- The airline is also planning expand its Canadian offerings by introducing nonstop routes to Montreal and Toronto, pending final approval.
- Sun Country Airlines aims to be the leisure airline of choice for customers, having more than doubled its nonstop destinations from Minneapolis in the last five years. Their CEO, Jude Bricker, has a unique management style and focuses on important decision-making rather than perfection.
Sun Country Airlines – a United States leisure airline – has announced eight new seasonal US domestic routes and, pending final approval, nonstop service to Canada’s Montreal and Toronto next summer. The expansion will bring Sun Country Airlines’ network to 104 airports with 120 routes across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Leisure airline adding eight new United States routes
Sun Country Airlines announced on October 17 eight new domestic, seasonal nonstop routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The routes will begin next June, with most operating twice per week. The exception is Dulles, which will fly four times weekly.
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), New Mexico
- Billings Logan International Airport (BIL), Montana
- Boise Airport (BOI), Idaho
- Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia/Washington, D.C.
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), Montana
- Oakland International Airport (OAK), California
- Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), New York
But this is not the only expansion for Sun Country Airlines…
Sun Country Airlines’ two new Canadian destinations
Although Sun Country Airlines already connects to Vancouver, British Columbia, the carrier intends to launch new nonstop routes to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in June 2024, if granted final approval. The addition to Sun Country’s portfolio of offerings excites the airline’s executives, as Grant Whitney, senior vice president and chief revenue officer shared:
“Sun Country prides itself on being the leisure airline of choice for MSP customers. We have more than doubled our nonstop destinations for customers flying out of MSP in the last five years, and we are thrilled to offer these unique new offerings spanning the continent from Quebec to New Mexico.”
With the addition of these two airports, plus the eight US domestic airports, Sun Country will operate up to 120 routes serving 104 airports next summer, across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean. The airline prides itself on ferrying folks to and from vacation destinations, but also has an air cargo and charter side business.
According to ch-aviation’s database, the airline has 42 Boeing 737-800s and 1 Boeing 737-700 on hand. Sun Country is also working with Oman Air and KGAL to obtain five 737-900ERs via a dry leasing arrangement, with Oman Air paying rent to Sun Country Airlines.
CEO Jude Bricker’s unique management style
The Airline Observer recently profiled Sun Country Airlines’ CEO, Jude Bricker. In the profile, Bricker makes clear he is not too involved in minutia. However, Bricker helps lead aircraft acquisition efforts for the airline, such as the aforementioned 737-900ERs from Oman Air. For Bricker, the Allegiant Air strategy of acquiring used aircraft that are flown only when necessary is important. Again, Sun Country Airlines is a leisure-first hybrid airline, flying less frequently to leisure destinations, and not an Emirates or Qatar that spends every day hauling passengers and freight in and out of hub cities.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Additionally, Bricker shared his decision-making process as a former US Marine officer:
- “A moderately good decision is better than the perfect one late.”
- “I have a high-risk tolerance generally. We can make decisions even if it doesn’t pencil out. I’m comfortable forcing the issue.”
Food for thought considering Bricker’s airline’s new routes.
What are your thoughts about Sun Country Airlines’ expansion? Please share in the comments.
Source: The Airline Observer
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