Sun Country Airlines open to merger talks but maintains independence

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Sun Country Airlines open to merger talks but maintains independence

Policy

Sun Country Airlines | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

Feb 25, 2025

Sun Country Airlines, based in Minneapolis, has expressed openness to potential mergers with other airlines. However, it emphasizes that such moves are not the primary focus for its future as an ultra-low-cost carrier.

The airline operates from Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport and serves approximately 140 destinations across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its fleet consists of 45 passenger aircraft and 12 cargo-only planes operated for Amazon Prime.

Dave Davis, Chief Financial Officer of Sun Country Airlines, stated at a recent Barclays Industrial Select Conference that while the airline is open to mergers and acquisitions, this is not their primary strategy. He said: "We think there are combinations with Sun Country that make sense and we continue to look at things. It’s certainly not our base plan, but I do believe the industry needs to consolidate on the low-cost side. It feels like some combinations are coming."

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Despite being open to merger discussions, Sun Country Airlines does not plan to order new aircraft currently. The airline primarily serves the Midwest and operates seasonal flights to popular tourist spots. It also has a significant partnership with Amazon through which it provides 12 Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft for Amazon Prime operations.

Davis highlighted that their unique business model might complicate potential mergers due to their cargo operations: "The uniqueness of our model makes it a little more difficult for us. You know, we’ve got 20 freighters, which is different" from passenger-focused carriers.

While no specific merger talks have been confirmed by Simple Flying or any other sources, there is notable activity in the airline industry regarding mergers and acquisitions. This includes failed attempts by JetBlue and Frontier Airlines to acquire Spirit Airlines.

Sun Country's Chief Executive Jude Bricker noted that mergers in the ultra-low-cost sector could benefit consumers. Despite its openness to discussions about possible partnerships if approached by another carrier, Sun Country intends to remain independent.

Founded on July 2, 1982, Sun Country commenced operations on January 20, 1983. It remains headquartered at Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport and employs over 2,500 people. The airline holds several interline agreements with China Airlines, Condor, Emirates, EVA Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and Icelandair.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics data for Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport operations share in February 2025: Delta Air Lines leads with 58.08%, followed by SkyWest at 8.31%, while Sun Country ranks third with around a 5.8% share.