at
Miami in 1998
Early years and bankruptcies (1983–2008) Sun Country was incorporated on July 2, 1982 and received its certificate of public necessity and convenience from the
Civil Aeronautics Board on January 17, 1983. The airline began offering charter service and the first revenue flight took place on January 20, 1983, from
Sioux Falls to
Las Vegas, using a Boeing 727 aircraft leased from
Air Florida. 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. 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. In 1988, its headquarters were located on the grounds of the
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. In 1995, Sun Country began offering scheduled flights from Minneapolis to several major cities. In 2001, the company suspended operations due to financial troubles. In 2006, the airline was acquired by
Petters Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisors. Following the replacement of interim CEO Jay Salmen by Stan Gadek, former CFO of
AirTran Airways, Sun Country nearly went out of business in the wake of the 2008
Great Recession, as well as the revelation that Petters Group Worldwide was operating a $3.25 billion
Ponzi scheme. The airline furloughed 45 of its 156 pilots and scaled back its summer schedule due to rising fuel costs. In September 2008 the carrier reduced or eliminated flights to
San Francisco and
Los Angeles. It also began charging for passengers' first checked bag. At the end of September, Gadek called for a 50% pay deferral to all remaining employees. The airline filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time on October 6, 2008.
Rebuilding and Davis brothers ownership (2011–2017) 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. Cambria CEO Marty Davis became chairman. In 2015, the Sun Country board hired Zarir Erani as president and CEO. The airline had a net income of $27 million in 2015, followed by a 41% drop to $16 million in 2016. As part of its strategy, Sun Country began to move toward being a "no-frills" airline.
Apollo Global Management ownership (2017–2025) On December 14, 2017, the Davis brothers announced they would sell the airline to funds affiliated with the
New York City-based
Apollo Global Management for an undisclosed amount. On December 17, 2019,
Amazon Air bought a minority stake in Sun Country from Apollo, and announced plans for the airline to operate cargo flights under the
Amazon Air brand. Sun Country initially operated ten cargo jets for
Amazon Air, operating its first cargo flight for Amazon in May 2020. On March 17, 2021, Sun Country became publicly listed and traded on the
NASDAQ under the ticker symbol SNCY. 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. In February 2025, Apollo Global sold its remaining shares of the airline in a secondary public offering transaction.
Acquisition by Allegiant Travel Company (2026) On January 11, 2026,
Allegiant Travel Company, parent of
Allegiant Air, announced it was buying the airline for around $1.5 billion. If the deal is approved by federal regulators, Allegiant Air will completely take over Sun Country operations including all employees, routes, aircraft, debt, charter operations, and cargo contracts. The proposed airline will operate under the Allegiant name. Allegiant and Sun Country have stated that the combined company will still maintain a "significant presence" at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the current headquarters and operating base for Sun Country. == Corporate affairs ==