Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines and Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines has announced that they are merging after a $1.5 billion purchase of the latter by Allegiant.
This deal is subject to governmental approval (which they’re expecting sometime in late-2026), but if it happens, the Sun Country brand would cease to exist.
The new airline would be one of the largest in the country, and strategically well placed. Allegiant would not only inherit Sun Country’s very large MSP network (which they claim to be committed to maintaining) but also their highly profitable cargo and charter business.
Personally, while I understand the move from a business perspective (the ULCC business in America is insanely difficult), it’s quite sad for me. Minnesotans (myself included) are very proud of our (not so little anymore) airline. The brand is very “Minnesota,” and I fear it’ll become highly corporate and boring. Obviously, it’s “just” an airline, but it holds a lot of personal meaning for me and the millions of people who fly with them every year.
It doesn’t really shock me, honestly. The Sun Country CEO has been very open to mergers in the past, but he’s also said that there’s nowhere that’s a great fit for Sun Country since it’s “weird.” That was 8 months ago, and things must have changed pretty quickly after that since clearly these talks take time.
Very depressing though.
100%
I would have expected a Southwest buyout a lot more than an Allegiant one, since Sun Country is already all 737s.
Seriously.
National travesty.
Thank you for delivering the heartbreaking news that has ruined my day smh. I genuinely didn’t believe it when I saw the text since it’s so out of left field.
I mean they don’t expect regulatory approval until at least mid-2026 (and that’s always a moving target because of bureaucracy). I’ll have at least a few more flights with them.
It’s also not like it’s going to magically disappear overnight if the merger gets approved. It’ll be well into 2027 at least by the time they re fit the cabins and liveries.
As somebody who used to call Minnesota home (it still is, deep inside ), this is quite sad. I still remember when Northwest merged with Delta. I hope this acquisition brings good things to the Sun Country family.
Imagine if Allegiant becomes the new Southwest from this
Think about it. Southwest is becoming more like Alaska while Alaska is becoming more like the big 3. Someone got to fill that spot and who better than Allegiant
A sun (Allegiant) merging with another sun (Sun Country)? According to science, that will become a big blue star, a supernova, or a blackhole. I hope it’s that big blue star and not the supernova or blackhole.
I got an email from Sun Country this evening. I wouldn’t mind more routes to small cities, but I mostly care that they preserve the international stuff. At least Delta overlaps on all of it.
), this is quite sad. I still remember when Northwest merged with Delta. I hope this acquisition brings good things to the Sun Country family.
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