SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES
After the shutdown of Braniff in 1982 a small group of Braniff employees led by Captain Jim Olsen approached local Twin Cities tour operator MLT Vacations about dedicating a Boeing 727-200 to the tour operators leisure destinations. Previously the tour operator had occasionally utilized a Braniff 727-200 overnighting at the MSP station for charters to leisure destinations. In June of 1982 a agreement was signed with MLT Vacations owning 51% of the new airline Sun Country with the pilots and flight attendants owning the remainder. An Air Florida 727-227 Advanced aircraft that had been destined for delivery to BN as 484BN was secured for the initial start-up.
First Brochure Circa 1982-83
Sixteen pilots, Sixteen flight attendants, three mechanics and one office person formed the new airline Sun Country Airlines. The companies first flight was January 30, 1983 from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas. The employees wore many hats in the early days of the company. Flight attendants stocked liquor kits and prepared meals while pilots updated manuals and assisted in catering. All the group assisted in cleaning the aircraft exterior and interior. On time performance was 98% the first year thanks to the young age of the aircraft and good mechanics. Sun Country was profitable after six (6) months of operation. No debt was accumulated in the succeeding years as the company financed all growth from internal funds.
A slow and deliberate expansion through the 80's meant steady profits for the company. In 1986 the company put into service its first wide body aircraft,. a 380 seat DC10-40 leased from Northwest Airlines. The aircraft's intercontinental range enabled the company to fly international charters and also accommodate demand on the heavily traveled MSP-LAS route.
Sun Country also provides ad-hoc charter lift to civic organizations, corporations, sports teams or virtually any group that wants to charter an aircraft. Sun Country became a member of the CRAF (Civilian Reserve Air Fleet) in 1989. Many charters were flown in support of the Desert Storm effort in 1990-91. 130 of the company's employees were recognized for their efforts by the Air Force.
Buoyed by record profits of $9.7 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1991 the airline acquired more 727 and DC10 aircraft. New tour operators were brought onboard with an emphasis on flying from the Midwest to Las Vegas, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean.
As the scheduled airlines became more sophisticated in managing their seat inventories in the late 90's the demand for charter flying by the tour operators fell off. In 1999 Sun Country made its first foray into scheduled flying with mixed results. Competing head-on with the local incumbent carrier Northwest resulted in losses for the company and the events of 9/11 meant a precipitous drop in traffic and revenue. The company closed its doors on December 07, 2001.
A new group of investors and a new management team were brought in to restart the airline. Those first months in 2002 harkened back to the beginning days of Sun Country in 1982 and the "Can Do" spirit of the company's work force.
Sun Country, as MN Airlines, re-emerged stronger than ever in April 2002 with an all-new fleet of 737-800s.
Without hesitation, Jim Olsen., COO at Sun Country and Braniff 727 Captain will tell you Sun Country was born on May 12, 1982. Braniff's demise was also the beginning of a new enterprise. The builders of Sun Country tenures at Braniff laid the groundwork for Sun Country Airlines. The heart of Braniff lives on today at Sun Country.
Today's Sun Country consists of nine Boeing 737-800s equipped with 12 First Class seats and 150 Coach seats upholstered in leather. Additional 737s are leased from Dutch carrier "Transavia" during peak season. N807SY, delivered in 2004, was named "The Spirit of Braniff" in honor of the airline that inspired Sun Country.
In October 2006, Tom Petters bought a 49% share in SCA. He brought in much needed capital to the carrier. In November, after former President and COO Jim Olsen stepped down, Petters bought out "Whitebox" Advisors which owned 51%. "The Petters Group" now owns 100% of Sun Country.
The Company has been losing money in the past year due to fuel costs and other factors. Hopefully, Tom Petters can turn the carrier around without resorting to selling it off to another carrier that would not respect the colorful past of this great airline based in Braniff routes.
As of April 12, 2008, Sun Country laid off 100 station personnel, 28 Executives and furloughed 45 pilots. Over 90 flight attendants took a "leave of absence." The staff reduction was due to the enormous costs of Jet-A fuel which has risen to almost $4 a gallon.
Sun Country is hoping not to follow Aloha, Champion, ATA, Eos, Skyway and other carriers forced to cease operations due to increasd costs in 2008.
N811SY carries the 25TH Anniversary Logo to mark 25 years of Sun Country Service.
N812SY, the company's 10th aircraft, was optioned, but due to financial problems, not delivered.
2007 TV ad:
Find More at: www.myspace.com/suncountryairlines
© 2008 "The Braniff Pages" and "The Petters Group" - MN Airlines d/b/a Sun Country Airlines
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