In September, Sun Country will begin flights from Minneapolis using the Boeing 737-900ER. The type will be used on routes to popular leisure destinations.
We’ve been keeping our eyes peeled for new developments from the Sun Country Airlines camp for a while. Finally, we got some news that’s worth noting.
According to Ishrion Aviation in a BlueSky post, the Minneapolis-based ultra low cost carrier will begin flights with its Boeing 737-900ER between Minneapolis-St.Paul (MSP) to Phoenix starting September 26th.
They will also begin using the type on additional flights starting in October to destinations from MSP including:
Over time, Sun Country has used the Boeing 737-800. This variant of the Boeing 737 was rolled out in the late 2000s as part of Boeing’s Next Generation program. According to Planespotters, Sun Country’s 737-800 fleet averages 18.7 years old.
The introduction of the 737-900ER is a step up, but not quite a leap. These planes aren’t fresh off the assembly line by any means. Sun Country is acquiring these airframes from Oman Air who introduced them in their fleet 10 years ago.
Many U.S. carriers, including United, Alaska, and Southwest are already using the latest Boeing 737 Max planes. Sun Country’s certified used Boeing 737-900ERs are still considered part of the older Next Generation series. That means that the airline is still behind the times in terms of fleet modernization.
Probably the biggest upgrade the 737-900ER brings to the table is its range. But another benefit is also its longer fuselage. This added length allows for more seats compared to the 737-800.
The best way to understand how the aircraft type will work for Sun Country is to look at current operators using it here in the States.
Delta and United configure their 900ERs with roughly 180 seats in a three-class setup. In comparison, Sun Country already packs 186 seats into their Boeing 737-800s in a high density layout typically for ULCCs.
More than likely, Sun Country will push seating capacity for their Boeing 737-900ERs to above 200 seats.
The addition of the 900ER makes Sun Country the first ULCC in the United States to operate the type. While they aren’t the only ULCC flying 737s. Allegiant Air is operating Boeing 737 Max 8s and Avelo Airlines using Boeing 737-700s. Either way, all these carriers are sticking to a cost-conscious strategy when it comes to their fleet.
Allegiant secured discounts on the new Max aircraft. Sun Country and Avelo settled on acquiring older Boeing 737s.
The destinations Sun Country chose aren’t surprising. As a leisure-focused ULCC, its network is highlighted towards warm-weather markets during the winter.
The larger 900ER will help the airline operationally. They will be able to offer more seats per flight better handling peak demand. They might even have lower maintenance costs, since these jets are newer than 737-800s. These savings could potentially improve profit margins.
For Sun Country customers, the onboard experience likely won’t change. The cabin arrangement and amenities shouldn’t differ much from what is already presented on the 737-800.
But, from a strategic standpoint, if these first flights prove to be successful, will Sun Country look to further invest in the type? Or would they look to modernize with newer generational aircraft?
In the time being, the introduction of the 737-900ER is a major step forward for Sun Country. However, it still needs to make up ground in terms of fleet to stay current with its ULCC competitors.
