Sun Country Airlines has embarked on another expansion spree. This time, the American ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) has announced service to nine new airports with 18 nonstop routes. All of the new routes touch the airline's pockets of strength in Minnesota and Wisconsin and focus on leisure-oriented, peak winter season travel.
The 18 new nonstop routes and nine new destinations
The latest round of expansion from Sun Country Airlines includes the following new routes:
From Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to:
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) four times per week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from November 24th, 2021
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays, beginning on December 16th, 2021. This is an extension from a previous schedule.
- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) four times per week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from November 25th, 2021
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) twice a week on Mondays and Fridays from December 10th, 2021
- Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) once per week on Saturdays from December 18th, 2021
- Providenciales International Airport (PLS) once per week on Saturdays from December 18th, 2021
From Duluth International Airport (DLH) to:
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) twice per week on Mondays and Fridays from December 17th, 2021
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) twice per week on Mondays and Fridays from December 17th, 2021
From Rochester International Airport (RST) to:
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from February 3rd, 2022
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) twice per week on Mondays and Fridays from February 4th, 2022
From Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) to:
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from December 16th, 2021
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) twice per week on Mondays and Fridays, starting from December 17th, 2021
From Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison to:
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from December 16th, 2021
From Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to:
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from August 26th, 2021
- Cancun International Airport (CUN) once per week on Saturdays from December 18th, 2021
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from August 26th, 2021
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) twice per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from December 15th, 2021
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) twice per week on Thursdays and Sundays from December 16th, 2021
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The new airports
The nine new cities in Sun Country's network are:
- Duluth International Airport (DLH)
- Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in the Cayman Islands
- Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
- Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
- Rochester International Airport (RST)
- St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
- Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in the Turks and Caicos
As is evident, Sun Country Airlines is coming to some of the new cities in a big way. Duluth, Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Rochester are all getting multiple new services, with Milwaukee receiving a whopping five destinations.
Sun Country previously has sold flights out of Duluth and Rochester but on a partnership with the Landline company, which predominantly offers bus service to Minneapolis from destinations near to Minneapolis, like Mankato, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and others.
This is an interesting slate of expansion. Sun Country will serve two Phoenix-area airports (PHX and AZA) while also serving two Tampa-area airports (TPA and PIE). AZA and PIE are known low-cost carrier airports, which are cheaper options. The two new airports are not seeing expansive new services, but it will allow Sun Country to broaden its portfolio. The carrier strategically looks at airports that it can serve without burdening itself with costs that could make flights unsustainable.
The winter peak
Many of these routes are starting up this winter. In January, the airline announced its summer leisure expansion. This may be surprising, but it is a very deliberate choice. Sun Country is targeting a Minnesota originator market. It wants to be the airline of choice for leisure passengers in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
One of the best times of year for the airline is in winter, when Minnesotans, fed up with the cold, decide to go on a leisure getaway. Sun Country has been successful with this method of flying and is keeping it up. That strategy is now expanding to include points in Wisconsin and secondary cities in Minnesota.
Since a successful IPO, Sun Country has wanted to expand its operations and be relevant to even more upper Midwest customers. Assuming trends continue, these flights should be successful as low-fare, leisure-oriented getaways onboard Boeing 737 aircraft.
Will you fly any of these new Sun Country routes? Let us know in the comments!