Sun Country Airlines
Minneapolis -Saint Paul
Sun Country Airlines ( trade name of MN Airlines, LLC) is an American low-cost airline based in Mendota Heights and base at the Minneapolis -Saint Paul Airport.
History
1980
After the demise of Braniff International Airways in 1982, convinced some former employees of Braniff in the Minneapolis -St. Paul -based tourism company Inter MLT Vacations, a Boeing 727-200 to procure for flights to their destinations. MLT used a Braniff Boeing 727-200, just in Minneapolis -St. Paul was shut down for charter flights to their destinations. In June 1982, the Treaty establishing the Sun Country Airlines has been closed. MLT took over 51 % of the company, the remaining shares went to the pilots and flight attendants of the Company. An Air Florida B727 -227 Advanced, which was originally designed for Braniff, was secured for the beginning of flight.
The team of Sun Country consisted of 16 pilots, 16 flight attendants, three mechanics and an office staff. The first flight took place in Las Vegas on January 30, 1983 by Sioux Falls. In the early days of the airline were from the flight crew all the necessary things before and during the flights, as the sale of spirits and food preparation done while the pilots flying papers processed and additionally helped with the operation of the passengers. After only 6 months, the airline was in the black.
The company flew more profitable by slow but steady expansion in the 1980s. In 1986, the company its first " wide-body " machine, a leased from Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10- 40, a.
Sun Country undertook charter flights for civilian organizations, societies, sporting groups and various other groups. 1989 Sun Country member of the Civil Reserve Airfleet ( CRAF ).
1990
Sun Country flew many charter operations during the first Iraq war in 1990-91. For better support of Operation Desert Storm 130 employees of the company were collected by the U.S. Airforce.
After a record profit in fiscal year 1991, additional Boeing 727 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 were procured. Several tour companies chose Sun Country to their airline and the network was expanded with flights from the Midwest to Las Vegas, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Mid-90s, bought the Mark Travel Group, the airline and changed the business profile to a small niche airline. The following years led the airline due to the aging population and the insert length of the machine to its limits. A new management started a renovation program to meet the needs to meet the passengers. In June 1999, the Company's management the operations of the fleet from charter to scheduled decided to switch. From Minneapolis and Milwaukee new routes to Los Angeles, Seattle, Detroit, Washington, DC and Phoenix were offered. In addition, a frequent flyer program called "Smile Award " was recorded.
2000
In 2000 Sun Country began with new Boeing 737 to renew the fleet. Since the DC-10 fleet was outdated and the maintenance was too expensive, reduced the liquor and the last DC-10 looked in the spring of 2001.
Strong competition with Northwest Airlines and the events of September 11, 2001 forced the company to reduce its offer only to then adjust the flight operations on 8 December 2001. Through the bankruptcy Sun Country lost most of its Boeing 727 fleet and its new Boeing 737 aircraft. Despite all Sun Country kept his pilot's license. In the following months the local MN Airlines, LLC, organized the bankruptcy settlement and began anew. From bankruptcy free, standardized Sun Country 's fleet on the Boeing 737-800 and began combined scheduled and charter flights from Minneapolis to Laughlin, Nevada casinos and some charter flights. Then charter flights with a focus on Florida, Mexico and the West Coast were taken.
On 31 October 2006, the airline was taken over completely by the Petter Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisor.
On April 1, 2008, the Company announced that it had put 45 of the 156 pilots on hiatus and lower than in the normal summer flights utilize the machine to catch the greatly increased fuel costs.
Destinations
The main hub of the company is located at the Minneapolis -Saint Paul International Airport. From here, scheduled and charter flights to destinations within the current 33 United States, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Caribbean are offered. Eight of these destinations are served all year round. Begin or end in Minneapolis - St.Paul, but it will also temporarily flights from smaller cities of the Midwest such as Fargo, North Dakota and La Crosse, Wisconsin offered to leisure and holiday destinations such as Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada Most flights. In addition, Sun Country offers flights from Minneapolis to London -Gatwick with a Boeing 737-800.
Fleet
As of October 2013, the fleet of Sun Country Airlines consists of 17 aircraft with an average age of 11.5 years:
- 07 Boeing 737-700 ( a decommissioned)
- 10 Boeing 737-800