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Sun Country Airlines history
Sun Country Airlines company history timeline
A number of the original employees had previously worked for Braniff International Airways, which ceased operations on May 12, 1982.
The airline first took to the skies in January 1983 using a Boeing 727-200.
Sun Country began flight operations in January 1983 with a single Boeing 727-200 jetliner.
Net income was $180,413 for the first fiscal year and $1.47 million for fiscal 1984.
The sale of Mainline was completed in 1985, but NWA dropped the bid for Sun Country.
In January 1986, to accommodate growth, Sun Country moved into a new facility.
In late 1988, Midwest banker B. John Barry purchased majority ownership of Sun Country from the original investors.
At the end of 1991, the airline reported record earnings of $9.7 million, doubling its fleet and workforce.
The changes in climate with NWA factored into Sun Country’s declining numbers in 1992.
Sun Country launched its own vacation travel package program late in 1995.
Owner to Buy Twin Cities Airline,” Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, April 17, 1997.
Eager for total control, he purchased the remaining Sun Country shares in the summer of 1998.
Mark Travel's estimated fiscal 1998 net profit was $20 million.
Torbenson, Eric, “St Paul-Based Airline Buys Tour Company,” Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, June 23, 1999.
However, it soon began running into headwinds, despite becoming a scheduled carrier in 1999.
December 2001: Ceases flying operations and files for bankruptcy after Sept.
Pretty soon, a group of investors purchased the airline and flights resumed in early 2002.
In July 2006, the airline was acquired by Petters Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisors.
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.
In January, 2013, a new and improved Ufly Rewards program was launched, rewarding members for what they spend, not how far they fly.
In June 2015, Sun Country Airlines entered into a long-term agreement with Caesars Entertainment Corporation’s Total Rewards Air, the gaming industry’s largest domestic charter service.
In September 2016, Sun Country Airlines launched its online store with exclusive branded merchandise from notable brands.
In July 2017, after more than a year of missed monthly earnings projections, Davis replaced Erani as interim President and CEO, with Erani moving to other duties within the Davis family of companies.
It was with the entry of Jude Bricker in 2017, the former CEO of Allegiant, that the carrier became the low-cost carrier it is today.
In 2018, Sun Country Airlines began a 3-year commitment to donate an estimated $720,000 worth of travel to accommodate every wish kid traveling anywhere the airline flies.
On December 17, 2019, Amazon Air bought a minority stake in Sun Country from Apollo, with plans for the airline to operate cargo flights under the Amazon Air brand.
The airline operated their first cargo flight for Amazon in May 2020.
On March 17, 2021, Sun Country became publicly listed and traded on the NASDAQ under the ticket SNCY.
2022 marks 40 years since Sun Country Airlines was founded.
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Sun Country Airlines, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Sun Country Airlines. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Sun Country Airlines. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Sun Country Airlines. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Sun Country Airlines and its employees or that of Zippia.
Sun Country Airlines may also be known as or be related to MN AIRLINES LLC, MN Airline Holdings, Inc., MN Airlines LLC and Sun Country Airlines.