Sun Country

Airline Code: SY

About Sun Country:
After the shutdown of Braniff International Airways in 1982, a small group of Braniff employees approached Twin Cities tour operator MLT Vacations about dedicating a Boeing 727-200 to the tour operator's leisure destinations. Previously the tour operator had occasionally utilized a Braniff Boeing 727-200 overnighting at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for charters to leisure destinations. In June 1982, an agreement was signed to start a new airline, Sun Country. MLT Vacations owned 51% of the company, with the pilots and flight attendants owning the remainder. An Air Florida Boeing 727-227 advanced aircraft that had been destined for delivery to Braniff as N484BN was secured for the start-up.

Sun Country's original staff consisted of sixteen pilots, sixteen flight attendants, three mechanics, and one office person. The company's first president was Captain Jim Olsen, who also acted as Chief Pilot. His wife, Joan Smith-Olsen, acted as Chief Flight Attendant and Head of Inflight Operations. Jim Olsen retired from Sun Country in 2007. The company's first flight was January 30, 1983, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Las Vegas. In the early days of the company, employees completed numerous tasks in order to lower costs. Flight attendants stocked liquor kits and prepared meals while pilots updated manuals and assisted in catering. The entire group assisted in cleaning the aircraft exterior and interior. On-time performance was 98% the first year, due to the young age of the aircraft and quality mechanics. Sun Country was profitable after six months of operation. In addition, no debt was accumulated in the succeeding years as the company financed all growth from internal funds.

Sun Country Major Hubs:
Minneapolis/Saint Paul

Aircraft Type:
Boeing 737-800

Fleet Size: 9

No. of Destinations: 13

Airline was founded in: 1982