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31st July 2012
Sun Country Airlines is to expand its fleet of cargo aircraft during 2025, increasing from 12 to 20 planes.
Speaking at the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers conference in Dublin, Dave Davis, president and CFO of the US low-cost carrier, stated that the cargo arm of the airline has been a “key” part of its strategy, with the division making up 10-15% of the company’s overall revenue.
Sun Country initially inducted ten 737-800 converted freighter aircraft into its fleet in December 2019, with these aircraft being operated on behalf of Amazon Air.
The additional eight freighter aircraft that will be implemented by the end of the year will also come from Amazon Air.
Along with an increase in cargo capacity, Davis noted that the airline has “no current order book” and is continuing with its long-term growth strategy of operating mid-life 737s.
“I think we have secured a stream of aircraft that we will need as an airline until 2027/28,” said Davis. “We have a number of additional aircraft that we bought leases on, with those aircraft currently out on lease to other carriers."
Davis emphasised that when those aircraft come off existing lease, they will go into Sun Country’s fleet - for the most part between late 2025 and into early 2026 – enabling the airline to not spend on aircraft for the next two to three years.
He also stated that the airline will put more focus on the passenger arm of the business in late 2026.
When asked about the airline’s stance on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), it was noted that the airline would most likely be a “follower” when it comes to implementing the sustainable fuel type into its operations, stating that its emissions are competitive with other high utilisation carries.
Sun Country currently operates a Boeing only fleet, made up of 70 mid-life 737-800 aircraft.