Sun Country Airlines transitioning to no frills carrier
Minnesota based Sun Country Airlines is climbing aboard the budget fare bandwagon.
The carrier is changing its business model and is pivoting to a no frills airline.
This is perhaps unsurprising given it recently installed a new CEO Jude Bricker, who was an executive at Allegiant Air.
Bricker outlined some changes ahead in a memo to staff, according to the Star Tribune.
While he lauded the airlines customer service reputation, there is a need to cut costs and boost revenues via add-on services.
"Our customers are leisure travelers who are generally paying for their trip with their own money. While they value product and service, their behavior tells us that they care most about affordable airfare when making their travel decisions," Bricker said in the memo.
The airline will reportedly cram more seats on planes and start charging for carry-on bags, but gave no timeline for when any new changes will begin.
Bricker stressed it will still offer a quality service.
"We’ll be different. We’ll continue to offer a better product."
It also aims to change the company culture too.
Buyouts are being offered to senior employees typically on higher wages ‘to leave Sun Country if those individuals were not on board with the new vision.’
The airline declined to officially comment on any upcoming changes.
Airline spokeswoman Kelsey Dodson-Smith said: "In regards to the vision for the company and strategy surrounding it, we are not ready to share that information."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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