Summary
- Sun Country Airlines offers many seasonal flights to over 80 destinations.
- Partnerships with international carriers like China Airlines and Emirates allow seamless connecting flights for passengers.
- The airline operates popular international routes from Minneapolis/St. Paul, including to Vancouver, Cancun, Toronto, and Montreal.
Sun Country Airlines is one of the largest airlines at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP). While the carrier may not have an extensive network of destinations served year-round from the Midwest hub, several cities, international and domestic, are operated seasonally. While Sun Country is known for passenger operations, the ultra-low-cost airline has offers charter flights and cargo flights through a contract with Amazon. On the passenger side, the carrier flies to more than 80 destinations.
As demand ebbs and flows throughout the year, Sun Country’s strategy is to offer many of its services on a seasonal basis. The majority of its international flights are served seasonally, but are supported by the airlines’ interline agreements with other carriers. This allows passengers to book flights and purchase tickets directly with Sun Country’s partner airlines, travel agents, or on an online travel agency. Since its focus is primarily on leisure travel, the carrier’s strategy to succeed in operational reliability and performance has proven itself.
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Sun Country has established partnerships with six other airlines. One is US-based, while the other five are international carriers:
- China Airlines
- Condor
- Emirates
- Eva Air
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Icelandair
On a single ticket, passengers can reserve convenient connecting flights. Additionally, their bags will be checked to their final destination, making the experience even more seamless, according to the airline.
Photo: natmac stock | Shutterstock
Four popular international routes will be offered by Sun Country from MSP in August, according to aviation data and analytics firm Cirium. Understandably, the bulk of the routes journey to Canada, which neighbors to the north. However, one particular route connects MSP with a sunny and warm Mexican destination.
1
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Vancouver
1,436 miles
The route between MSP and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will have the most number of frequencies next month. Currently, the route is offered on Sundays and Thursdays. SY1043 is an evening flight, with a scheduled departure from MSP at 21:05. It typically arrives at YVR around 22:50 local time, resulting in a flight time of around three hours and 40 minutes. The return journey is scheduled as a red-eye flight. SY1044 departs from YVR at 23:59 and travels around three hours and typically arrives around 05:15 local time. The flight currently has frequencies on Thursdays and Sundays.
Photo: Sun Country Airlines
In August, the Sun Country will offer over 5,000 seats.
- Total flights: 27 (14 to YVR and 13 to MSP)
- Total seats: 5,022 (2,604 to YVR and 2,418 to MSP)
- Total Available Seat Miles (ASMs): 7,211,592
- Equipment: Boeing 737-800
Sun Country will face competition from Delta Air Lines, which will offer more flights and seats between YVR and MSP. The airline operates the route twice daily on the 737-900ER.
2
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Toronto
679 miles
Flights to Canada’s east coast at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will also operate next month. It will have the second-most frequencies, but they are sparse. There are eight flights scheduled to YYZ and nine scheduled to MSP. Currently, SY1697 departs from MSP just before 08:00. After a flying time of about two hours, the flight typically arrives around 11:00 local time. The return flight, SY1918, departs from YYZ at 11:40 and lands around 12:50, resulting in a flight duration of two hours and 10 minutes.
Across 17 total flights on the route next month, more than 3,100 seats will be offered:
- Total flights: 17 (8 to YYZ and 9 to MSP)
- Total seats: 3,162 (1,488 to YYZ and 1,674 to MSP)
- ASMs: 2,146,998
- Equipment: 737-800
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Sun Country is the only airline to operate a mainline aircraft on the route. It competes with Delta’s regional brand Delta Connection, which utilizes the Bombardier CRJ900 on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Endeavor Air. Jazz Air also operates the CRJ900 between MSP and YYZ under the Air Canada Express brand. Although Sun Country’s 737-800 has more capacity, Delta and Air Canada have more frequencies. Both offer three daily flights on the route.
3
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Montréal–Trudeau
949 miles
Service between MSP and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) will have 14 frequencies next month. While it has fewer scheduled flights than the MSP-YYZ route, it travels further, at 949 miles in each direction. SY1767 is currently scheduled to depart from MSP at 07:20 and arrives at YUL around 10:50 local time, resulting in a flight time of about two hours and 30 minutes. The return flight, SY1696, takes off from YUL at 09:15 and lands back at MSP at 10:24 after a flight time of about two hours.
Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock
Just over 2,600 seats will be offered between MSP and YUL next month:
- Total flights: 14 (8 to YUL and 6 to MSP)
- Total seats: 2,604 (1,488 to YYZ and 1,116 to MSP)
- ASMs: 2,471,196
- Equipment: 737-800
Similar to MSP-YYZ, Sun Country will face competition from both Air Canada and Delta.
4
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Cancun
1,683 miles
Sun Country’s service between MSP and Cancún International Airport (CUN) is its longest international route planned for next month, but it has the least amount of frequencies. SY573 is scheduled to depart at 08:00 and has a travel time of four hours to CUN. The flight lands around 12:00 local time. The return flight, SY574, departs back to MSP about an hour later. It leaves CUN at 13:15 and lands around 16:40, resulting in a flight time of three hours and 25 minutes.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
Between MSP and CUN, Sun Country will offer nearly 1,900 seats.
- Total flights: 10 (5 each way)
- Total seats: 1,860 (930 each way)
- ASMs: 3,130,380
- Equipment: 737-800
While Sun Country operates the route once weekly, Delta’s service between MSP and CUN is daily.
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