Sun Country Airlines

Big-picture snapshot

Sun Country Airlines is a hybrid carrier operating a fleet of approximately 67 Boeing 737 aircraft — 47 for scheduled passenger and charter operations and 20 as Amazon Air freighters — from its hub at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). It is headquartered at MSP and employs approximately 664-700 active pilots represented by ALPA. Jude Bricker serves as CEO (since 2017).

For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Sun Country is this: it is a unique hybrid model — part scheduled airline, part charter operator, part cargo carrier — and it is about to be acquired by Allegiant Travel Company for approximately $1.5 billion ($18.89/share). Announced January 11, 2026, the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval. The combined company would serve approximately 175 cities with 650+ routes. Sun Country also has a 10-year Amazon Air cargo contract (extended through 2030 with options to 2037), making it one of the few airlines with both passenger and cargo revenue streams. Sun Country went public on NASDAQ (ticker: SNCY) in March 2021 and has delivered five consecutive profitable years and 14 consecutive profitable quarters through 2025.

Company history

• 1982 July 2: Incorporated by former Braniff International pilots and flight attendants
• 1983 January 20: First revenue flight (Sioux Falls to Las Vegas, leased Boeing 727)
• 1991: Record earnings of $9.7 million; doubled fleet and workforce
• 1999 June 1: Became a scheduled carrier
• 2001: Suspended operations post-9/11
• 2008 October 6: Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy (second time)
• 2011: Purchased out of bankruptcy for $34 million by the Davis family (Cambria countertops)
• 2017: Apollo Global Management acquired Sun Country; Jude Bricker (former Allegiant COO) became CEO
• 2019: Amazon Air bought minority stake; signed 10-year cargo contract
• 2021 March 17: IPO on NASDAQ (ticker: SNCY)
• 2024: Amazon cargo contract extended through 2030 (options to 2037); cargo fleet grew to 20 aircraft
• 2025: Record revenue of $1.13 billion; 14th consecutive profitable quarter; fifth consecutive profitable year; ~664-700 pilots
• 2026 January 11: Allegiant Travel Company announced $1.5 billion acquisition ($18.89/share, 19.8% premium); new CVG base opened

Business model

Sun Country operates a distinctive three-pillar hybrid model:

• Scheduled passenger service (~70% of revenue): Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft flying scheduled routes from MSP to leisure destinations — Florida, Arizona, California, Mexico, Caribbean.
• Charter operations (~20% of revenue): Military and civilian charter flights; casinos, sports teams, and ad hoc charter.
• Amazon Air cargo (~10% of revenue): 20 Boeing 737-800BCF freighters operating under an Amazon Air contract. Cargo block hours grew 50.6% year-over-year in Q4 2025.

This hybrid model provides revenue diversification that pure scheduled carriers lack — and makes Sun Country attractive to Allegiant as an acquisition target.

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