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Allegiant Air announced today that it has officially completed its acquisition of Sun Country Airlines to bring together two low-cost carriers focused on affordable leisure travel across the United States and select international markets. The transaction closed after satisfying all customary conditions (including regulatory approvals and shareholder approval from both airlines).
As I first wrote about in January, the merger significantly expands Allegiant’s footprint in the leisure travel sector and creates a combined airline group that will serve approximately 22 million annual customers across nearly 175 cities and more than 650 routes with a fleet of 195 aircraft. Despite the acquisition closing, travelers should not expect immediate operational changes. Allegiant and Sun Country said both airlines will continue operating as separate carriers in the near term while maintaining their existing brands, reservation systems, and loyalty programs.
That means:
- Allegiant Allways Rewards and Sun Country Rewards will remain separate for now
- Existing reservations and flight schedules will not change
- Customers should continue using the airline they booked with for check-in, customer support, and travel management
The company said additional integration benefits and combined-network opportunities will gradually be introduced over time. The merger combines two airlines with complementary business models and revenue sources.
In addition to scheduled passenger service, Sun Country brings a large cargo operation through its partnership with Amazon Prime Air, as well as charter contracts serving:
- Casinos
- Major League Soccer teams
- Collegiate athletic programs
- The US Department of Defense
These operations will complement Allegiant’s existing charter business while helping diversify revenue beyond traditional leisure flying. The combined airline group will also gain:
- Expanded access to domestic leisure destinations
- Increased scale and operational flexibility
- Greater fleet optimization opportunities
- Additional resilience during economic downturns
At closing, the merged company will control 195 aircraft, along with 30 aircraft currently on order and options for an additional 80 aircraft.
Allegiant emphasized that Sun Country’s deep roots in Minnesota will remain an important part of the combined company’s future. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is expected to continue operating as a major base for the airline group with leadership pledging to maintain strong ties with local communities, airports, and employees. The company also stated there will be no immediate changes to frontline operational roles and that all existing labor agreements will remain in place throughout the integration process.
Under the new structure, Greg Anderson will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company. Robert Neal will become President and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, Jude Bricker, Jennifer Vogel, and Thomas C. Kennedy have been appointed to Allegiant’s Board of Directors as part of the transaction.
Anthony’s Take: The acquisition marks one of the most significant consolidations in the US low-cost airline sector in recent years and further strengthens Allegiant’s position in the competitive leisure travel market.
(Image Credits: Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
