Welcome to the Sun Country Airlines News and Discussion thread - 2023 edition. Please continue to post your news and your discussions below.

Link to the 2022 edition:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1468635

Predictions & Fact for SY in 2023:

Fact:
- SY will fly 120 routes across 90 airports in 2023
- SY will resume service to JFK, STL
- SY will begin service to RAP, TVC, COS, ILM, MCI, OMA, RIC, DTW, CMH, SDF, ACY, CLT

Jude Bricker spoke alot of "demand driven dispatch" as their focus in 2023 and the importance of MSP... With that in mind...
- SY will focus on adding routes out of MSP for the Fall and Winter Season to possibly include:
- MSP-SXM (this would be a resumption)
- MSP-NAS (also a resumption)
- MSP-SLC, ATL (to compete with DL on those markets, similar to their addition in DTW)
- MSP-DAB (this aligns with their focus of serving literally every single city along the FL coast)
- To free up ramp space in MSP overnight, SY will add a seasonal MSP-FAR turn to attempt to gain connecting traffic in the winter months as well

Thoughts?

I’ve heard 737-900ERs are possible.

TonyClifton wrote:

I’ve heard 737-900ERs are possible.

Jude said in the far future (more than 3 years) they are considering adding the 767 to the fleet for both Cargo and Passenger services.

If they can get a good deal on the used 737-900ERs then I do not see why not. It would make sense for higher demand routes like MSP-CUN.

rainaviation2 wrote:

Predictions & Fact for SY in 2023:

Fact:
- SY will fly 120 routes across 90 airports in 2023
- SY will resume service to JFK, STL
- SY will begin service to RAP, TVC, COS, ILM, MCI, OMA, RIC, DTW, CMH, SDF, ACY, CLT

Jude Bricker spoke alot of "demand driven dispatch" as their focus in 2023 and the importance of MSP... With that in mind...
- SY will focus on adding routes out of MSP for the Fall and Winter Season to possibly include:
- MSP-SXM (this would be a resumption)
- MSP-NAS (also a resumption)
- MSP-SLC, ATL (to compete with DL on those markets, similar to their addition in DTW)
- MSP-DAB (this aligns with their focus of serving literally every single city along the FL coast)
- To free up ramp space in MSP overnight, SY will add a seasonal MSP-FAR turn to attempt to gain connecting traffic in the winter months as well

Thoughts?

I would love to see SY add a MSP-FAR route and also try a few route expansions out of FAR.

If Eau Claire works out, some shorter turns out of MSP to feed into MSP may prove fruitful: Duluth, Fargo, Sioux Falls, Dubuque, Moline, and the like.

FARmd90 wrote:

I would love to see SY add a MSP-FAR route and also try a few route expansions out of FAR.

Right? They are seeing good success in the Wisconsin market (according to Jude in his interview). Adding a plane from MSP-FAR in the evening and FAR-MSP in the morning would make sense. Or even adding FAR-LAS/RSW/CUN.

stlgph wrote:

If Eau Claire works out, some shorter turns out of MSP to feed into MSP may prove fruitful: Duluth, Fargo, Sioux Falls, Dubuque, Moline, and the like.

Obviously EAU planes to MSP are not going to be full, but if they find it works operationally to keep aircraft on ramps in those small cities overnight I could see this working to their advantage.

SY rampers have voted to unionize with the Teamsters, votes were counted yesterday. Based on the article, I assume that only MSP is in-house?

https://teamster.org/2023/01/sun-countr ... local-970/

CMHtraveler wrote:

SY rampers have voted to unionize with the Teamsters, votes were counted yesterday. Based on the article, I assume that only MSP is in-house?

https://teamster.org/2023/01/sun-countr ... local-970/

Only MSP in house. All outstations are outsourced.

wish the new TVC summer svc made connections. many of the new seasonal adds do

While I'd love to see it, I'm skeptical on the 739s... there just aren't very many available right now... Lion is returning most to service that weren't on the list for Delta...

RJNUT wrote:

wish the new TVC summer svc made connections. many of the new seasonal adds do

I think there is more summer schedule to be loaded into the system for SY. There are some obvious blocks missing in their schedule that they have operated consistently for years that haven't been loaded.

By summer they will have 42 737 flying pax. That's lot of flying you can do with 42 jets.

sunking737 wrote:

By summer they will have 42 737 flying pax. That's lot of flying you can do with 42 jets.

Especially when most of their new routes are a few times a week. That is A LOT of possible routes you can manage to operate.

rainaviation2 wrote:

RJNUT wrote:

wish the new TVC summer svc made connections. many of the new seasonal adds do

I think there is more summer schedule to be loaded into the system for SY. There are some obvious blocks missing in their schedule that they have operated consistently for years that haven't been loaded.

What blocks are missing?

Is there data on how many of SY's pax are connecting in MSP?

I am curious if they could capitalize more on connecting traffic. For example, there is a convenient PWM-MSP-ANC and back that they are selling many days this summer. SY could further build their brand in the midwest by marketing flights as "one stop to Cancun" and such.

rainaviation2 wrote:

Is there data on how many of SY's pax are connecting in MSP?

I am curious if they could capitalize more on connecting traffic. For example, there is a convenient PWM-MSP-ANC and back that they are selling many days this summer. SY could further build their brand in the midwest by marketing flights as "one stop to Cancun" and such.

From my understanding they will sell connections when it works out, but they don't specifically build the schedule for connections outside of a few cities (like EAU).

SY added Fargo to their landline service...

Any possibility we see them adding FAR as a flight station as well?

I mentioned it before... Could be a good thing for SY to get a plane out of MSP for the night!

rainaviation2 wrote:

SY added Fargo to their landline service...

Any possibility we see them adding FAR as a flight station as well?

I mentioned it before... Could be a good thing for SY to get a plane out of MSP for the night!

Where do you see this add?

Never mind I found a article. Nothing posted on Fargo’s website yet about it though. Hopefully this landline service does good and they either add more or a flight eventually.
https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/01/ ... utType=amp

FAR is remodeling their terminal, adding gates, I have a feeling they will be doing more flights out of the smaller airports to sun destinations

Does anyone know what a 6XXX numbered flight would be?

I know 8XXX is charter, 3XXX is cargo, but what is 6?

SY6010 operated from SBD to CVG today, for reference.

rainaviation2 wrote:

Does anyone know what a 6XXX numbered flight would be?

I know 8XXX is charter, 3XXX is cargo, but what is 6?

SY6010 operated from SBD to CVG today, for reference.

Amazon Air flight

Amazon Ferry Flight. A/C being moved to different city

sunking737 wrote:

Amazon Ferry Flight. A/C being moved to different city

Ah, that makes sense! Thank you...

Curious if anyone has been keeping a tally/list/sheet of Sun Country departures for cities/days out of MSP particularly when all the spring service ramp-ups begin....

stlgph wrote:

Curious if anyone has been keeping a tally/list/sheet of Sun Country departures for cities/days out of MSP particularly when all the spring service ramp-ups begin....

What do you mean?

Maybe I am just not understanding what you are looking for

as in...
Sundays and Thursdays Sun Country serves these 15 cities
Mondays and Fridays - these 17 cities, etc. etc.

stlgph wrote:

as in...
Sundays and Thursdays Sun Country serves these 15 cities
Mondays and Fridays - these 17 cities, etc. etc.

Atlantic City (ACY): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 1, 2023.

Charlotte (CLT): Mondays and Fridays, beginning April 13, 2023.

Colorado Springs (COS): Thursday and Sunday, beginning June 8, 2023.

Columbus, Ohio (CMH): Monday and Friday, beginning May 4, 2023.

Detroit (DTW): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 5, 2023; increases to four flights weekly beginning June 1, 2023 with additional services on Thursdays and Sundays.

Kansas City (MCI): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 29, 2023.

Louisville (SDF): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 4, 2023.

Milwaukee (MKE): Friday and Sunday, beginning May 5, 2023.

New York (JFK): Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, beginning April 13, 2023.

Omaha (OMA): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 26, 2023.

Rapid City (RAP): Mondays and Fridays, beginning June 16, 2023.

Richmond (RIC): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 19, 2023.

St. Louis (STL): Mondays and Fridays, beginning May 22, 2023.

Traverse City (TVC): Mondays and Fridays, beginning June 16, 2023.

Wilmington (ILM): Thursdays and Sundays, beginning June 1, 2023.

in total......

stlgph wrote:

in total......

Oh gosh! I would have no idea where I would find that...

IIRC all the Sun Destinations are flying now for the winter season which goes until Easter. The only way you know is going to the web site, and see what flights fly on what day of the week. Now that winter flying is in full schedule, some cities have more then one flight a day. MCO, TPA, RSW..Mexico is daily. Not sure about down to the Caribbean, Central America. You will not be able to see the charters out of say STL, IND, or DOD, College..

The SY route network is very unpredictable when looking at long-term trends.

For example, a route to MCO may fly 5x a day on Monday, but only 1x on Wednesday, and that may only be that way for a singular week.

They LOVE to move their planes into very specific positions to capture every bit of seasonal peak demand.

As mentioned, Sun Country's schedule seems to be changing all the time.
And boy, is it ever all over the place.
This is information pulled from the week of July 9-15 out of Minneapolis as sent over by my compadre who works there.

SUNDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a DENVER
620a FT MYERS
630a BURLINGTON
630a PROVIDENCE
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
715a ORLANDO
720a PHILADELPHIA
730a WILMINGTON
735a BALTIMORE
745a LOS ANGELES
800a DALLAS FT WORTH
805a CHARLESTON
815a TAMPA
820a PITTSBURGH
835a BUFFALO
845a BOZEMAN
850a NASHVILLE
905a HOUSTON
915a LAS VEGAS
930a ANCHORAGE
1000a DENVER
1200p LOS ANGELES
215p INDIANAPOLIS
220p FT WALTON BEACH
230p ASHEVILLE
230p NEW ORLEANS
245p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p RENO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p ORLANDO
330p LOS ANGELES
335p DETROIT
345p PHOENIX
350p SPOKANE
400p PORTLAND
405p LAS VEGAS
415p NASHVILLE
420p COLORADO SPRINGS
430p CINCINNATI
435p DENVER
500p MILWAUKEE
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
745p EAU CLAIRE
850p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE
930p LAS VEGAS

MONDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a PHILADELPHIA
620a LAS VEGAS
630a ATLANTIC CITY
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a ORLANDO
705a NEWARK
715a CHARLOTTE
720a FT MYERS
730a BALTIMORE
735a RICHMOND
745a EAU CLAIRE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a ANCHORAGE
810a SAN ANTONIO
815a TAMPA
825a PITTSBURGH
845a LOUISVILLE
900a LOS ANGELES
1000a DENVER
1200p TRAVERSE CITY
220p INDIANAPOLIS
230p MYRTLE BEACH
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p KANSAS CITY
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p PHOENIX
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p OMAHA
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
405p LAS VEGAS
415p RAPID CITY
420p ST LOUIS
430p COLUMBUS
435p CINCINNATI
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE

TUESDAY
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
745a BALTIMORE
800a ANCHORAGE
830a LOS ANGELES
900a ORLANDO
930a FT MYERS
1000a SAN FRANCISCO
1030a SEATTLE
1100a LAS VEGAS
1130a DENVER
1200p PORTLAND
100p LOS ANGELES
200p SAN FRANCISCO
315p SAN DIEGO
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE

WEDNESDAY
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
730a PHILADELPHIA
745a BALTIMORE
800a ANCHORAGE
900a ORLANDO
905a VANCOUVER
930s LOS ANGELES
1000a FT MYERS
1030a SAN FRANCISCO
1100a LAS VEGAS
1130a SEATTLE
1200p DENVER
100Pp PORTLAND
300p LAS VEGAS
315p SAN DIEGO
430p EAU CLAIRE
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES

THURSDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a FT MYERS
620a ORLANDO
630a PROVIDENCE
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a BURLINGTON
705a NEWARK
715a TAMPA
720a BALTIMORE
735a WILMINGTON
745a PHILADELPHIA
750a CHARLESTON
800a BUFFALO
805a DALLAS FT WORTH
820a PITTSBURGH
900a LOS ANGELES
905a HOUSTON
915a LAS VEGAS
930a ANCHORAGE
1000a DENVER
1200p LOS ANGELES
200P ORLANDO
215p INDIANAPOLIS
220p FT WALTON BEACH
230p ASHEVILLE
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
245p NEW ORLEANS
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p RENO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p PHOENIX
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
405p LAS VEGAS
415p COLORADO SPRINGS
430p CINCINNATI
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE
930p LAS VEGAS

FRIDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a FT MYERS
620a LAS VEGAS
630a ATLANTIC CITY
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a ORLANDO
705a NEWARK
715a PHILDAELPHIA
720a CHARLOTTE
730a BALTIMORE
735a RICHMOND
745a EAU CLAIRE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a MILWAUKEE
810a SAN ANTONIO
815a TAMPA
825a PITTSBURGH
845a BOZEMAN
845a LOUISVILLE
900a LOS ANGELES
930a ANCHORAGE
1200p DENVER
1210p TRAVERSE CITY
220p INDIANAPOLIS
230p MYRTLE BEACH
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
255p PHOENIX
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p KANSAS CITY
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p OMAHA
355p NASHVILLE
400p DENVER
405p LAS VEGAS
415p ST LOUIS
420p COLUMBUS
430p CINCINNATI
435p RAPID CITY
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE

SATURDAY
615a FT MYERS
645a ORLANDO
650a BOSTON
700a SEATTLE
705a NEWARK
730a LAS VEGAS
745a BALTIMORE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a ANCHORAGE
810a CANCUN
830a TAMPA
900a SAN JUAN
905a VANCOUVER
930a LOS ANGELES
1000a DENVER
300p SAN FRANCISCO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p ORLANDO
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p PHOENIX
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
415p LAS VEGAS
500p ANCHORAGE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

Hats off to maintenance for bringing the planes to the gates quickly in the am, and to catering for getting the planes serviced before they get to the gates. I am talking from experience. I worked for SY for many years in catering. I guess that makes me a fan boy..Damn Skippy.

Wonder how many of these flights will be stairway boarding.

rainaviation2 wrote:

Does anyone know what a 6XXX numbered flight would be?

I know 8XXX is charter, 3XXX is cargo, but what is 6?

SY6010 operated from SBD to CVG today, for reference.

9XXX is ferry/repo

stlgph wrote:

Wonder how many of these flights will be stairway boarding.

Flights in and out of DFW are bussed to a ramp unless there is a bridge gate open.

freakyrat wrote:

stlgph wrote:

Wonder how many of these flights will be stairway boarding.

Flights in and out of DFW are bussed to a ramp unless there is a bridge gate open.

DFW like a small focus city - did they find a niche market for themselves to Mexico resorts? These flights must be doing well?

It's interesting to see SY take a competitive stance on MSP-SEA, at three daily flights scheduled for this summer. That route is quite overserved (DL 6x, AS 3x, SY 3x).

seat1a wrote:

freakyrat wrote:

stlgph wrote:

Wonder how many of these flights will be stairway boarding.

Flights in and out of DFW are bussed to a ramp unless there is a bridge gate open.

DFW like a small focus city - did they find a niche market for themselves to Mexico resorts? These flights must be doing well?

They transition all/most of their Mexico/Caribbean flying from MSP to Texas in the summer months. In fact, IIRC Jude Bricker said in an interview that DFW-CUN is one of their most important summer routes.

stlgph wrote:

As mentioned, Sun Country's schedule seems to be changing all the time.
And boy, is it ever all over the place.
This is information pulled from the week of July 9-15 out of Minneapolis as sent over by my compadre who works there.

SUNDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a DENVER
620a FT MYERS
630a BURLINGTON
630a PROVIDENCE
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
715a ORLANDO
720a PHILADELPHIA
730a WILMINGTON
735a BALTIMORE
745a LOS ANGELES
800a DALLAS FT WORTH
805a CHARLESTON
815a TAMPA
820a PITTSBURGH
835a BUFFALO
845a BOZEMAN
850a NASHVILLE
905a HOUSTON
915a LAS VEGAS
930a ANCHORAGE
1000a DENVER
1200p LOS ANGELES
215p INDIANAPOLIS
220p FT WALTON BEACH
230p ASHEVILLE
230p NEW ORLEANS
245p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p RENO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p ORLANDO
330p LOS ANGELES
335p DETROIT
345p PHOENIX
350p SPOKANE
400p PORTLAND
405p LAS VEGAS
415p NASHVILLE
420p COLORADO SPRINGS
430p CINCINNATI
435p DENVER
500p MILWAUKEE
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
745p EAU CLAIRE
850p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE
930p LAS VEGAS

MONDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a PHILADELPHIA
620a LAS VEGAS
630a ATLANTIC CITY
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a ORLANDO
705a NEWARK
715a CHARLOTTE
720a FT MYERS
730a BALTIMORE
735a RICHMOND
745a EAU CLAIRE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a ANCHORAGE
810a SAN ANTONIO
815a TAMPA
825a PITTSBURGH
845a LOUISVILLE
900a LOS ANGELES
1000a DENVER
1200p TRAVERSE CITY
220p INDIANAPOLIS
230p MYRTLE BEACH
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p KANSAS CITY
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p PHOENIX
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p OMAHA
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
405p LAS VEGAS
415p RAPID CITY
420p ST LOUIS
430p COLUMBUS
435p CINCINNATI
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE

TUESDAY
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
745a BALTIMORE
800a ANCHORAGE
830a LOS ANGELES
900a ORLANDO
930a FT MYERS
1000a SAN FRANCISCO
1030a SEATTLE
1100a LAS VEGAS
1130a DENVER
1200p PORTLAND
100p LOS ANGELES
200p SAN FRANCISCO
315p SAN DIEGO
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE

WEDNESDAY
650a BOSTON
705a NEWARK
730a PHILADELPHIA
745a BALTIMORE
800a ANCHORAGE
900a ORLANDO
905a VANCOUVER
930s LOS ANGELES
1000a FT MYERS
1030a SAN FRANCISCO
1100a LAS VEGAS
1130a SEATTLE
1200p DENVER
100Pp PORTLAND
300p LAS VEGAS
315p SAN DIEGO
430p EAU CLAIRE
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES

THURSDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a FT MYERS
620a ORLANDO
630a PROVIDENCE
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a BURLINGTON
705a NEWARK
715a TAMPA
720a BALTIMORE
735a WILMINGTON
745a PHILADELPHIA
750a CHARLESTON
800a BUFFALO
805a DALLAS FT WORTH
820a PITTSBURGH
900a LOS ANGELES
905a HOUSTON
915a LAS VEGAS
930a ANCHORAGE
1000a DENVER
1200p LOS ANGELES
200P ORLANDO
215p INDIANAPOLIS
220p FT WALTON BEACH
230p ASHEVILLE
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
245p NEW ORLEANS
250p SAN FRANCISCO
300p RENO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p PHOENIX
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
405p LAS VEGAS
415p COLORADO SPRINGS
430p CINCINNATI
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE
930p LAS VEGAS

FRIDAY
600a SAN FRANCISCO
605a SEATTLE
615a FT MYERS
620a LAS VEGAS
630a ATLANTIC CITY
635a DETROIT
645a JFK
650a BOSTON
700a ORLANDO
705a NEWARK
715a PHILDAELPHIA
720a CHARLOTTE
730a BALTIMORE
735a RICHMOND
745a EAU CLAIRE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a MILWAUKEE
810a SAN ANTONIO
815a TAMPA
825a PITTSBURGH
845a BOZEMAN
845a LOUISVILLE
900a LOS ANGELES
930a ANCHORAGE
1200p DENVER
1210p TRAVERSE CITY
220p INDIANAPOLIS
230p MYRTLE BEACH
235p RALEIGH DURHAM
250p SAN FRANCISCO
255p PHOENIX
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p KANSAS CITY
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p OMAHA
355p NASHVILLE
400p DENVER
405p LAS VEGAS
415p ST LOUIS
420p COLUMBUS
430p CINCINNATI
435p RAPID CITY
500p ANCHORAGE
550p OHARE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES
905p SEATTLE

SATURDAY
615a FT MYERS
645a ORLANDO
650a BOSTON
700a SEATTLE
705a NEWARK
730a LAS VEGAS
745a BALTIMORE
755a DALLAS FT WORTH
800a ANCHORAGE
810a CANCUN
830a TAMPA
900a SAN JUAN
905a VANCOUVER
930a LOS ANGELES
1000a DENVER
300p SAN FRANCISCO
305p SEATTLE
315p SAN DIEGO
320p ORLANDO
330p LOS ANGELES
335p PORTLAND
345p PHOENIX
350p DENVER
400p NASHVILLE
415p LAS VEGAS
500p ANCHORAGE
845p SAN FRANCISCO
855p LOS ANGELES

Hence what I was saying... It is all over the place lol... Tuesday is EMPTY compared to some of those other days.

pmanni1 wrote:

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

SY's strategy is VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic out of MSP. Simple niche that they have found themselves to be quite good at!

When people in the Twin Cities are thinking vacation and/or visiting family, I know for many the Sun Country website is where they look first.

pmanni1 wrote:

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

I see it as a strategy to avoid competition and get a piece of the pie so to speak.

AC4500 wrote:

It's interesting to see SY take a competitive stance on MSP-SEA, at three daily flights scheduled for this summer. That route is quite overserved (DL 6x, AS 3x, SY 3x).

I don't see it as competitive, I see it as money. I'm sure Sun Country has some packages available with several of the cruise lines going out of SEA in the summer. SEA is a whole different kind of ball game in Summer.

I heard an, albeit unsubstantiated, rumour that they were possible looking at moving from IAH to HOU. Anyone else heard that? Not sure if there is enough space at HOU anyway. Just curious.

F9Animal wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

It's interesting to see SY take a competitive stance on MSP-SEA, at three daily flights scheduled for this summer. That route is quite overserved (DL 6x, AS 3x, SY 3x).

I don't see it as competitive, I see it as money. I'm sure Sun Country has some packages available with several of the cruise lines going out of SEA in the summer. SEA is a whole different kind of ball game in Summer.

I did not even think about the cruise line aspect... Alaskan cruises are a big deal in the summer!

rainaviation2 wrote:

pmanni1 wrote:

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

SY's strategy is VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic out of MSP. Simple niche that they have found themselves to be quite good at!

When people in the Twin Cities are thinking vacation and/or visiting family, I know for many the Sun Country website is where they look first.

Being from STL, I have noticed that people at TSA in the C checkpoint usually have MN Ids around the time SY is leaving.

stl07 wrote:

rainaviation2 wrote:

pmanni1 wrote:

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

SY's strategy is VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic out of MSP. Simple niche that they have found themselves to be quite good at!

When people in the Twin Cities are thinking vacation and/or visiting family, I know for many the Sun Country website is where they look first.

Being from STL, I have noticed that people at TSA in the C checkpoint usually have MN Ids around the time SY is leaving.

Yeah... I would be curious to see the % of SY pax that have MN home addresses. I am sure it is more than 75%

Most people do not even know SY is an airline unless they are in the industry, love aviation, or are from MN.

rainaviation2 wrote:

stl07 wrote:

rainaviation2 wrote:

SY's strategy is VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic out of MSP. Simple niche that they have found themselves to be quite good at!

When people in the Twin Cities are thinking vacation and/or visiting family, I know for many the Sun Country website is where they look first.

Being from STL, I have noticed that people at TSA in the C checkpoint usually have MN Ids around the time SY is leaving.

Yeah... I would be curious to see the % of SY pax that have MN home addresses. I am sure it is more than 75%

Most people do not even know SY is an airline unless they are in the industry, love aviation, or are from MN.

They used to have a small leisure operation at STL flying to places like LIR and HUX (might have been MBJ) if I remember correctly so some of that name recognition still exists. But obviously not as much as they were counting on as all non MSP flights in the STL reentrance have been suspended.

That stat about MN home addresses would be cool!

pmanni1 wrote:

I do not understand SY's strategy. From STL it's just 2 weekly to MSP and no connections available. What is the point of that? How can that compete with DL and WN?

I agree CMH and a few others have low frequencies similar to that as well. Since they do cater mainly to MSP, in the summer it offers families options to visit family. They don't pose a real competition threat.