In 1982, a group of pilots and flight attendants from the defunct Braniff International banded together to form their own airline with the help of businessmen in the twin cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. This group named their venture Sun Country Airlines. They partnered with locally based MLT Vacations and exclusively operated charter flights, initially flying from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas.

Sun Country had 33 employees that acted as jacks-of-all-trades in the early days. Flight attendants prepared meals and stocked beverages while pilots updated manuals and assisted in catering. They were a tight-knit bunch who loved putting in the required time to help their company succeed. The fruits of their labor appeared in the first year, producing profits after only six weeks and on-time performance of 98%.

The next few years brought success and colorful stories to Sun Country. The airline took up residence in a hangar, flew to destinations like Oslo, Norway, became a member of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and flew military charters to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Sun Country enjoyed record earnings of $9.7 million in 1991, and the airline doubled its fleet and workforce.

Sun Country experienced the ups and downs that accompany both growth and the airline industry over the next few years. On June 1, 1999 the airline became a scheduled carrier. Although passenger loads were good, the increased expenses that come with scheduled service were difficult to cover. Price wars hurt the airline, and by 2000 Sun Country had lost $62 million. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were yet another blow to the airline. On December 8, 2001, Sun Country announced it was ceasing scheduled operations and shut its doors completely a few days later.

Shortly thereafter, a group of investors purchased Sun Country and resumed flying in early 2002. The initial schedule included destinations such as Denver, Los Angeles and Orlando as well as the warm weather destinations the airline has built its reputation on. Sun Country added additional routes, including New York and Washington D.C. and added frequency to existing destination. Always a Minnesota favorite, Sun Country has been recognized for the top notch service provided to passengers by being ranked in the Top Ten Domestic Airlines lists by both Travel+Leisure and Condé Nast Travelers three years in a row.

As Sun Country grew, additional capital was needed for expansion. Two Twin Cities firms, Petters Aviation and Whitebox Advisors, joined together to acquire the airline in 2006 and began implementing a conservative growth plan. In November 2007 Petters Aviation purchased Whitebox Advisors’ share of Sun Country and remains the current owner of Sun Country. Despite an 89% increase in fuel prices year-over-year, Sun Country was one of few airlines who made money in both July and August of 2008. The airline is continuing to operate its normal flight schedule and provide the award-winning service it is known for.