Sun Country Reduces September Schedule Due to Crew Attrition and Cargo Flying
In a recent internal memo viewed by AirlineGeeks, Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson announced that Sun Country has reduced its September schedule due to higher-than-expected crew attrition and increased cargo flying. These factors have put pressure on staffing, resulting in temporary reductions in scheduled capacity.
Impact of Crew Attrition and Cargo Flying
According to Anderson’s message to Allegiant and Sun Country flight crews, the company’s passenger and cargo operations rely on the same crews. As a result, the unexpected crew attrition and increase in cargo flying have caused staffing issues for the airline. However, Anderson reassured employees that the reductions are temporary and that the company is actively hiring more pilots to rebuild staffing levels at their Minneapolis/St. Paul base.
Reasons for Schedule Changes
In a statement to AirlineGeeks, Sun Country attributed the schedule changes to seasonal demand, higher-than-expected cargo flying, and an expanded pilot pathway program. This program requires experienced pilots to move into instructor roles, creating a need for more pilots to be hired.
Significant Reductions in September Schedule
The schedule changes have resulted in a reduction of approximately 348 departures in September, which accounts for about one-third of the month’s previously planned flying. These reductions primarily affect September, while schedules from October 2026 to April 2027 remain mostly unchanged. In fact, the airline has even added flights on certain routes, including additional service between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Providence, Rhode Island.
Suspended Routes and Significant Cuts
Sun Country has suspended service on 34 routes, including seven routes from Minneapolis, such as Cancún, San Juan, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Asheville, Raleigh-Durham, Baltimore/Washington, and Phoenix-Mesa. Additionally, several other routes have received significant cuts, including flights between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, and Chicago O’Hare.
Expansion of Cargo Operations
Sun Country has been expanding its cargo operation for Amazon Air, using Boeing 737 freighters. In January, the airline also opened its first operational base outside Minneapolis at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, a major hub for Amazon’s air cargo network.
Integration into Allegiant
The schedule changes come as Allegiant integrates Sun Country following their acquisition on May 13. In the memo, Anderson stated that both airlines will continue to operate separately until the Federal Aviation Administration approves a single operating certificate. This process is expected to take between 18 and 24 months. Additionally, each pilot group will remain under their existing collective bargaining agreement until joint contract negotiations begin.
No Additional Base Closures Expected
Anderson also mentioned that the company does not anticipate closing any more bases beyond the previously announced Savannah, Georgia, and Bellingham, Washington locations. He also reassured employees that future growth in Minneapolis would involve hiring more locally-based crews rather than displacing existing employees.