Allegiant Air to acquire Sun Country Airlines in $1.5 billion leisure-travel merger

Leadership and headquarters

The merged carrier will operate under the Allegiant name and be headquartered in Las Vegas. Anderson will lead the combined airline as CEO.

Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker will join the company’s board of directors. Bricker previously served as Allegiant’s chief operating officer in 2016 and 2017 before becoming Sun Country’s top executive.

“I’ve had the privilege of working at both companies and can say that based on those experiences, this is a tremendous fit across the board,” Bricker said.

What travelers can expect

The airlines said passengers should not expect any immediate changes. Ticketing, flight schedules, the overall travel experience, and the Sun Country brand will remain the same while the merger is pending, the companies said.

The combined carrier will maintain a significant presence in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, where Sun Country is based, and will continue to operate Sun Country’s charter and cargo businesses.