Sun Country Airlines
, described as a “hybrid low-cost air carrier,” is known for its diverse network of leisure destinations. Although the carrier primarily offers passenger flights, its cargo side of operations has been expanding.

The Minneapolis–St. Paul-based airline is in its fourth year operating cargo flights for Amazon Air
, branded as Prime Air. With plans to grow its Boeing 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter)
fleet, the carrier has been able to focus on how to best support its crews, given varying peak travel periods heavily influence its leisure operating model.

“Finding something for them to do”

Sun Country and Amazon Air struck a deal in 2019 under which the airline would operate 10 examples of the 737-800BCF. According to CNBC, the agreement was part of a plan to expand Amazon Air’s cargo operations with single-aisle planes. Sun Country operated its inaugural cargo flight for the company in May 2020, according to Air Cargo News. Since then, the carrier has acquired two more aircraft, increasing the fleet to a total of 12 examples.

Amazon Air (Prime Air) Boeing 737-800BCF operated by Sun Country Airlines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Photo: lorenzatx | Shutterstock

According to ch-aviation, the passenger fleet comprises 44 examples of the 737-800. With a single aircraft type fleet, the airline can efficiently utilize its pilots for both cargo and passenger operations. Sun Country’s CEO, Jude Bricker, recently told Simple Flying that cargo flights have helped with managing the carrier’s scheduled service.

“So it’s the same pilots that flay all our lines of business. Really, it’s about finding something for them to do in the off-peak periods. In and of itself, cargo doesn’t have very wide margins, it’s pretty narrow. But it’s about being able to contract our scheduled service business.”

Adapting to topsy-turvy demand

Bricker went on to explain that Sun Country’s scheduled service varies by the month. In September, its scheduled operations were a third of that of July. However, the CEO said the month “is worse for everybody,” as it is typically when the peak travel period over the summer winds down and demand
is not as prevalent as families send their children back to school. It could also be a time when airlines perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft, as there may not be as many flights operating.

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However, as peak winter travel demand ramps up in November and becomes full swing in December, airlines address it by adding more flights or upgrading equipment. Bricker said Sun Country’s scheduled service in the last half of December is “about two and a half times bigger than the first half.”

Expanding both cargo & passenger fleets

The 737 Next Generation (NG) series has proved to be successful for the airline. In addition to the -800, the carrier also operated the smaller -700 for passenger services for a while, but the variant was retired last year. Sun Country seems satisfied with its fleet numbers currently, but to support future growth, the airline acquired five 737-900ERs from Oman Air through an operating lease.

Sun Country Boeing 737-800 taking off.

Photo: Sun Country Airlines

Dave Davis, Sun Country’s President and Chief Financial Officer, told ch-aviation last year that the aircraft are expected to arrive next month.

“Those start to come off lease and redeliver to us in November of 2024. So that’s incremental aircraft in 2025. So, we think we’re in a great position from a fleet perspective.”

Expansion plans for its cargo fleet were shared this past June. The airline signed an Amended and Restated Air Transport Services Agreement with Amazon to extend their contract through 2030 with options to further extend the terms through 2037. The agreement will bring an additional eight 737-800BCFs starting next year, bringing the total cargo fleet from 12 to 20 freighters.

“It’s a schedule philosophy that says not ‘what’s the least bad thing I can do with this airplane, because it’s going to fly’ to one that says ‘I’m going to fly the best thing and if I run out of thing I’m not going to fly,’” Bricker explained.

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