Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Sun Country Airlines has changed owners several times since former Braniff employees launched the Minnesota-based carrier in 1982. Its ownership changed again in 2026, making older descriptions of the airline as an Apollo-owned company or an independently traded public company outdated.
Quick Answer
As of July 31, 2026, Sun Country Airlines is owned by Allegiant Travel Company. Allegiant completed its acquisition on May 13, 2026, and Sun Country stock stopped trading under SNCY. The airlines still operate separately in the near term, but the combined airline is expected to move to the Allegiant name over time.
Key Takeaways
- Current owner: Allegiant Travel Company acquired Sun Country Airlines on May 13, 2026.
- Apollo is a former owner: Apollo acquired Sun Country in 2018 but sold all of its remaining shares in February 2025.
- No separate SNCY stock: Sun Country’s shares ceased trading after the Allegiant transaction closed. Allegiant continues to trade on Nasdaq under ALGT.
- Passenger operations remain separate for now: Existing Sun Country bookings, rewards, vouchers, schedules, and service channels remain in use during integration.
- Future brand: The combined airline is expected eventually to use one operating platform, one loyalty program, and the Allegiant name, although no final integration date has been announced.
Note: Airline ownership can change quickly. The information below reflects the completed Allegiant acquisition and the companies’ published customer guidance available on July 31, 2026.
Who owns Sun Country Airlines now?
Allegiant Travel Company owns Sun Country Airlines. Allegiant completed the acquisition of Sun Country Airlines Holdings, Inc. on May 13, 2026, after receiving the required regulatory and shareholder approvals. The transaction made Sun Country part of the Allegiant corporate group.
Before the acquisition, Sun Country Airlines Holdings traded on Nasdaq under the ticker SNCY. Its common stock ceased trading when the acquisition closed. Allegiant Travel Company remains publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ALGT.
That means Sun Country is no longer an independently traded public company. It is an airline owned by another publicly traded company.
According to Allegiant’s acquisition announcement, the two airlines are continuing to operate as separate carriers in the near term. Travelers can still book Sun Country flights and use the airline’s existing website, app, airport counters, and customer-service channels.
Pro Tip: Manage a reservation through the airline that issued the ticket. A Sun Country ticket is currently managed through Sun Country, while an Allegiant ticket is managed through Allegiant.
History of Sun Country Airlines ownership
Founding by former Braniff employees
Sun Country Airlines was founded in 1982 by a small group of former Braniff International Airways pilots and flight attendants. The airline’s first flight departed on January 20, 1983, traveling from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Las Vegas.
The airline began primarily as a charter carrier serving leisure travelers. It later expanded into scheduled passenger service while retaining a strong focus on vacation destinations and customers visiting friends and relatives.
Financial problems and the early-2000s revival
Sun Country stopped flying in December 2001 as the travel downturn following the September 11 attacks added to its financial difficulties. Creditors pushed the former operating company into bankruptcy proceedings in early 2002.
A new ownership group operating through MN Airlines acquired key assets and the Sun Country name. The revived carrier resumed service, marking a practical restart of the airline rather than a simple continuation under the same corporate ownership.
Petters Group and Whitebox ownership
Petters Group Worldwide and Whitebox Advisors acquired Sun Country in 2006. Petters later became the sole owner after purchasing Whitebox’s interest.
The airline entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2008 after severe financial pressure and the collapse of the Petters business organization. Unlike the earlier shutdown, Sun Country continued operating while it reorganized.
Davis family and Cambria Holdings
In 2011, Cambria Holdings, a company owned by Minnesota’s Davis family, acquired Sun Country. This period restored local ownership and gave the airline several years of relative stability before its next sale.
The Davis family hired Jude Bricker as chief executive officer in 2017. The airline then began moving toward a lower-cost model with more optional fees and a stronger emphasis on efficient aircraft use.
Apollo Global Management ownership
Investment funds managed by Apollo Global Management acquired Sun Country on April 11, 2018. Apollo was therefore an important former owner, but it is not the airline’s current owner.
During the Apollo period, Sun Country developed the hybrid model that came to define its business. It combined scheduled passenger flights with charter operations and cargo flying. This allowed aircraft and crews to be used across different types of work as demand changed throughout the year.
The 2021 initial public offering
Sun Country Airlines Holdings completed its initial public offering in March 2021 and began trading on Nasdaq under SNCY. The IPO made shares available to public investors, but Apollo continued to own a substantial stake immediately after the listing.
Public trading therefore did not mean Apollo disappeared from the ownership structure overnight. Apollo reduced its position through later share sales.
Apollo’s final exit in 2025
In February 2025, an Apollo-affiliated stockholder sold all 6,346,105 of its remaining Sun Country shares in a secondary public offering. After that transaction, Apollo no longer held its former ownership stake or related shareholder rights.
This is an important distinction: Sun Country remained an independent public company for a period after Apollo’s exit, until Allegiant completed its acquisition in 2026.
Allegiant acquisition in 2026
Allegiant and Sun Country announced their merger agreement on January 11, 2026. The cash-and-stock transaction received the required approvals and closed on May 13, 2026.
Sun Country shareholders received cash and Allegiant shares under the merger terms. Sun Country’s separate public listing ended, and the airline became part of Allegiant Travel Company.
Sun Country Airlines ownership timeline
| Period | Owner or ownership status |
| 1982–1997 | Founded by former Braniff pilots and flight attendants with backing from local investors. |
| 1997–2001 | Owned by leisure-travel entrepreneur Bill LaMacchia Sr.; operations stopped in December 2001. |
| 2002–2006 | MN Airlines and a local investor group acquired key assets and revived Sun Country service. |
| 2006–2011 | Petters Group and Whitebox acquired the airline; Petters later became sole owner. Sun Country entered Chapter 11 in 2008 and reorganized. |
| 2011–2018 | Davis family ownership through Cambria Holdings. |
| 2018–2021 | Privately controlled by Apollo-managed investment funds. |
| 2021–February 2025 | Publicly traded as SNCY while Apollo gradually reduced its shareholding. |
| February 2025–May 2026 | Independent public company after Apollo sold all remaining shares. |
| Since May 13, 2026 | Owned by Allegiant Travel Company; SNCY ceased trading, while Allegiant continues under ALGT. |
Private equity ownership of Sun Country Airlines
Apollo’s ownership was an important stage in Sun Country’s development, but it should be discussed as history rather than the airline’s present ownership.
After acquiring Sun Country in 2018, Apollo installed a board and management structure focused on developing a lower-cost, more flexible airline. Sun Country shifted away from a more traditional leisure-airline format and built a business around three main activities:
- Scheduled passenger service aimed mainly at leisure travelers and people visiting friends and relatives.
- Charter flying for sports teams, casinos, government customers, and other organizations.
- Cargo service using Boeing 737 freighters operated under contract for Amazon.
The model allowed Sun Country to move aircraft and crews toward the work offering the strongest seasonal demand. It also reduced the airline’s reliance on scheduled passenger ticket sales alone.
Sun Country’s 2021 IPO gave the airline access to public equity markets and allowed Apollo to begin reducing its investment. By February 2025, Apollo had sold its remaining shares and no longer controlled the company.
Impact of ownership changes on Sun Country Airlines operations
Each ownership period changed the airline in a different way. The early founders created a leisure-focused charter carrier. Later owners added scheduled service, revived the airline after its shutdown, managed it through bankruptcy, and eventually developed the hybrid passenger, charter, and cargo model used today.
The Apollo period produced the most visible change in the passenger product. Sun Country moved toward lower base fares with separately priced options, increased aircraft utilization, and focused its scheduled network on routes with strong leisure demand.
The Allegiant acquisition introduces another period of change. The companies have complementary leisure networks, but they also use different aircraft families, reservation systems, loyalty programs, and operating certificates. Combining those systems requires a staged integration rather than an immediate switch.
Sun Country Airlines’ financial performance under different owners
Sun Country’s financial history includes shutdowns, bankruptcy reorganizations, private investment, an IPO, and a corporate acquisition. It is therefore misleading to describe its performance as a simple upward or downward trend tied to one owner.
The airline reported stronger and more consistent profitability during the years leading up to the Allegiant acquisition. According to its full-year 2025 financial results, Sun Country generated approximately $1.13 billion in operating revenue and $52.8 million in net income.
Sun Country finished 2025 with its fifth consecutive profitable year and approximately $1.13 billion in total operating revenue.
Its diversified operations were important to those results. In 2025, scheduled passenger service remained a major revenue source, while charter and cargo work provided additional income and helped balance seasonal changes in leisure demand.
Future financial results will be reported as part of Allegiant’s combined business rather than through a separately traded Sun Country stock.
Challenges and opportunities created by private ownership
Private equity ownership gave Sun Country access to experienced managers and a strong incentive to improve efficiency. It also created pressure to produce returns for investors, which can lead to difficult choices involving staffing, fees, schedules, and the passenger experience.
The shift toward lower base fares and more optional charges appealed to price-sensitive travelers but also changed what customers received in the basic ticket price. Some travelers valued the lower entry fare, while others preferred the airline’s earlier service model.
The lasting opportunity from this period was the development of a flexible business with several revenue sources. That structure made Sun Country more attractive as an acquisition target because Allegiant gained not only a passenger network but also established charter and cargo operations.
Public perception of Sun Country Airlines ownership
Passengers usually experience ownership changes through fares, fees, routes, schedules, service policies, and reliability rather than through corporate filings. This is why the practical effects of the Allegiant acquisition matter more to most travelers than the legal transaction structure.
For now, Sun Country says existing reservations remain valid, flights continue to operate as scheduled, and customers should continue using the airline’s existing booking and support channels. Sun Country Rewards points, vouchers, and credit-card benefits also retain their current value.
The two rewards programs cannot yet be combined or used interchangeably. A Sun Country ticket is currently valid on Sun Country flights, while an Allegiant ticket is valid on Allegiant flights.
Public perception may change as integration progresses. Travelers will judge the combination by whether it expands useful routes, keeps fares competitive, protects accumulated rewards, and maintains reliable service.
Regulatory oversight of Sun Country Airlines ownership
The Allegiant acquisition required regulatory and shareholder approvals before it could close. The completed transaction was reported through filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the companies’ May 13, 2026 Form 8-K.
Corporate ownership and airline operating authority are related but separate matters. Even after a corporate acquisition closes, combining two airlines operationally involves additional work involving the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, security agencies, labor agreements, aircraft procedures, training, and technology systems.
Sun Country and Allegiant therefore continue to operate as separate carriers in the near term. The companies have said the operational combination will occur through a multi-step regulatory process.
Future outlook for Sun Country Airlines ownership
The question is no longer whether Sun Country might be sold. The sale has already closed. The main issue now is how and when Allegiant will integrate the two airlines.
The companies have said the combined airline will eventually use a single operating platform and loyalty program and fly under the Allegiant name. However, they have not announced a final date for completing that transition.
Minneapolis–St. Paul is expected to remain an important operating center. Allegiant has also said the combined business will retain Sun Country’s scheduled passenger, charter, and cargo capabilities.
Travelers should expect changes to be introduced in stages. Until an official update says otherwise, customers should continue booking, checking in, redeeming rewards, and requesting support through the airline shown on their ticket.
What ownership means for Sun Country Airlines
Ownership has played a major role in Sun Country’s development. The airline progressed from a charter company created by former Braniff employees to a scheduled leisure carrier, survived two major financial crises, entered private equity ownership, completed an IPO, and was ultimately acquired by Allegiant.
Today, the most accurate description is that Sun Country Airlines is an Allegiant-owned carrier that continues to operate under the Sun Country brand during a gradual integration period. Apollo Global Management is part of the airline’s history, not its current ownership structure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Sun Country Airlines?
Allegiant Travel Company owns Sun Country Airlines. Allegiant completed its acquisition of Sun Country Airlines Holdings on May 13, 2026.
Does Apollo Global Management still own Sun Country?
No. Apollo-managed funds acquired Sun Country in 2018, but an Apollo affiliate sold all of its remaining Sun Country shares in February 2025.
Is Sun Country Airlines publicly traded?
Sun Country is no longer independently traded. Its former SNCY shares ceased trading after the 2026 acquisition. Its owner, Allegiant Travel Company, is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ALGT.
Will the Sun Country name disappear?
The companies say the combined airline will eventually use one operating platform and fly under the Allegiant name. No final date for retiring or replacing the Sun Country brand has been announced.
Do I need to rebook a Sun Country flight through Allegiant?
No. Existing Sun Country reservations remain valid. Continue managing the booking through Sun Country’s website, app, airport counters, or customer-service channels unless the airline sends different instructions.
What happens to Sun Country Rewards points?
Sun Country says existing points retain their value and can still be earned and redeemed under the current program. Sun Country Rewards and Allegiant Allways Rewards remain separate and cannot yet be combined.
Who founded Sun Country Airlines?
Sun Country was founded in 1982 by a small group of former Braniff International Airways pilots and flight attendants. Its first flight operated from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas on January 20, 1983.
Sources
- Allegiant Travel Company acquisition announcement — confirms the May 13, 2026 closing, current ownership, stock delisting, and near-term operating structure.
- Sun Country and Allegiant acquisition FAQs — explains reservations, rewards, vouchers, brand plans, customer-service channels, and integration.
- Sun Country Airlines: Our Story — confirms the 1982 founding, former Braniff employee group, and first flight.
- Sun Country SEC Form 8-K filed May 13, 2026 — confirms completion of the Allegiant acquisition.
- Sun Country February 2025 secondary offering — confirms the sale of Apollo’s remaining shares.
- Sun Country full-year 2025 results — supports the revenue, profitability, fleet, and diversified-business figures.
