Sun Country is adding and growing 18 routes in a major expansion that will help shape it into the Midwest's hometown airline
- Sun Country Airlines is growing its ultra-low-cost route network to more cities outside of Minneapolis.
- A total of 18 routes are being added and expanded to sun destinations in the US and abroad.
- Arizona and Florida are the main focus but more flights to the Caribbean are being added.
Sun Country Airlines is marching across the Midwest with 18 new and expanding routes in the next year that were just announced on Tuesday.
Fresh from its conversion to an ultra-low-cost carrier, the Minneapolis-based airline is growing its point-to-point route network outside of the Twin Cities. The goal is to win more customers amid a wave of leisure travelers returning to the skies in 2021.
Sun Country has long been Minneapolis' hometown airline but these latest route additions are a sign the airline is setting itself up to be the Midwest's hometown airline. Smaller towns across the region lack non-stop flights to leisure destinations but now cities like Rochester, Minnesota, and Green Bay, Wisconsin will see more direct links to the sunnier locales.
Florida and Arizona destinations are among the new routes but the expansion will also see Sun Country fly deeper into the Caribbean with new flights to Turks and Caicos and Grand Cayman. As Sun Country is now a low-cost airline, flyers can expect cheap fares and extra fees for amenities like advanced seat assignments and carry-on baggage.
Most of Sun Country's competition on the Minneapolis-originating routes will be from Delta Air Lines, which maintains a hub in the city acquired in a merger with Northwest Airlines. But routes from Minneapolis comprise less than half of the expansion, with Sun Country facing no direct competition on other routes.
Here's where Sun Country Airlines is flying in the next year.
Between Minneapolis and Phoenix
Flights between Minneapolis and Phoenix via Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport launch on November 24 with four-times-weekly weekender service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The route to Phoenix's secondary airport complements its existing route to the larger Sky Harbor International Airport.
No other airlines directly operate the route but Sun Country will have competition from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines that operate the route from Sky Harbor International.
Between Minneapolis and Bozeman, Montana
Flights between Minneapolis and Bozeman, Montana continue on December 16 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays. Bozeman has been growing in popularity during the pandemic as a year-round socially distant destination.
Delta will be Sun Country's sole competition on the route.
Between Minneapolis and St. Petersburg, Florida
Flights between Minneapolis and St. Petersburg, Florida launch on November 25 with four-times-weekly service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a smaller alternative to Tampa International Airport, just across the Old Tampa Bay, complementing Sun Country's existing route to the city.
No other airlines directly operate the route but Delta, Spirit, Southwest, and Frontier Airlines fly non-stop to nearby Tampa.
Between Minneapolis and Punta Gorda, Florida
Flights between Minneapolis and Punta Gorda, Florida launch on December 10 with twice-weekly weekender service on Mondays and Sundays.
No other airlines directly operate the route.
Between Minneapolis and George Town, Grand Cayman
Flights between Minneapolis and Grand Cayman launch on December 18 with twice-weekly service on Mondays and Fridays.
Delta will be Sun Country's sole competition on the route.
Between Minneapolis and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Flights between Minneapolis and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos launch on December 18 with once-weekly service on Saturdays only.
No other airlines directly operate the route
Between Duluth, Minnesota and Fort Myers, Florida
Flights between Duluth, Minnesota and Fort Myers, Florida launch on December 17 with twice-weekly weekender service on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines directly operate the route
Between Duluth, Minnesota and Phoenix
Flights between Duluth and Phoenix launch on December 17 with twice-weekly weekender service on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines directly operate the route
Between Green Bay, Wisconsin and Fort Myers, Florida
Flights between Green Bay, Wisconsin and Fort Myers, Florida launch on December 16 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays.
No other airlines directly operate the route.
Between Green Bay, Wisconsin and Phoenix
Flights between Green Bay and Phoenix launch on December 17 with twice-weekly weekender service on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines directly operate the route.
Between Madison, Wisconsin and Phoenix
Flights between Madison, Wisconsin and Phoenix launch on December 16 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays.
American will be Sun Country's only competition on the route.
Between Milwaukee and Minneapolis
Flights between Milwaukee and Minneapolis launch on August 26 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays. The route will help connect Milwaukeeans to Sun Country's greater route network.
Delta will be Sun Country's only competition on the route.
Between Milwaukee and Cancun, Mexico
Flights between Milwaukee and Cancun, Mexico launch on December 18 with once-weekly service on Saturdays only.
No other airlines directly operate the route.
Between Milwaukee and Las Vegas
Flights between Milwaukee and Las Vegas launch on August 26 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays.
Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit will be Sun Country's competition on the route.
Between Milwaukee and Fort Myers, Florida
Flights between Milwaukee and Fort Myers launch on December 15 with twice-weekly weekender service on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Frontier, Southwest, and United Airlines will be Sun Country's competition on the route.
Between Milwaukee and Phoenix
Flights between Milwaukee and Phoenix launch on December 16 with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays.
American and Southwest will be Sun Country's competition on the route.
Between Rochester, Minnesota and Fort Myers, Florida
Flights between Rochester, Minnesota and Fort Myers launch on February 3, 2022, with twice-weekly weekender service on Thursdays and Sundays.
No other airlines directly operate the route.
Between Rochester, Minnesota and Phoenix
Flights between Rochester and Phoenix launch on February 4, 2022, with twice-weekly weekender service on Mondays and Fridays.
No other airlines directly operate the route.