CEO Garko Drives Sun Country’s Network Expansion
In just over two years, Michael Garko has proven to be the catalyst behind Sun Country Airlines’ remarkable growth. Serving as a key leader at the airline, Garko has played a central role in expanding the carrier’s network—adding 30 new destinations and nearly 50 new routes, including seven international services spanning four countries. His forward-thinking approach and data-driven strategy have positioned Sun Country as a leading ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) in the competitive U.S. market.
At Sun Country’s hub at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Garko’s influence has been particularly significant. Under his leadership, MSP has become the first and only U.S.-based ULCC airport hub to serve more than 100 nonstop destinations from a single airport. This milestone not only highlights the airline’s impressive growth but also emphasizes its commitment to enhanced connectivity across domestic and international markets.
One of the standout elements of Garko’s achievements is the strategic expansion of new routes, including those emerging from Sun Country’s five-year charter service agreement with Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This collaboration has seen the launch of flights to key cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Toronto, and Montreal. By tapping into the sports tourism market, Sun Country is diversifying its customer base and reaching new audiences passionate about live sports and travel experiences.
Garko’s contributions have not been confined solely to route additions. His initiatives in data-driven analysis and schedule optimization have yielded impressive results, with connectivity increasing by 30% during the final quarter of 2023. This improvement underscores how strategic planning, supported by market analysis, can enhance operational efficiency while meeting the evolving demands of travelers. Sam MacDonald at Sun Country Airlines remarked on Garko’s impact, stating, “In just over two years, Michael has played an instrumental role in carefully and constructively expanding Sun Country’s network. His strategic vision, thorough market analysis, and studious understanding have been key to our rapid expansion.” Such accolades from industry peers reinforce the notion that Garko’s efforts have significantly contributed to the airline’s overall success.
Garko’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by the global network planning community. At the Routes Awards in Bahrain, industry peers recognized his standout performance by naming him the winner of the Rising Star category. In his acceptance speech, Garko expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s awesome to be recognized by your peers on a global stage. To be able to make an impact within my industry has been phenomenal, but it’s truly a team effort—so thank you to the whole Sun Country team for making this possible.” This recognition serves as a testament to both his personal dedication and the collective efforts of the Sun Country team.
Highlighting the importance of forging and nurturing airport relationships, Garko emphasized at Routes World 2024 that building strong, collaborative partnerships is essential for future growth. “Bahrain has been a great host,” he stated, “we’ve had extremely productive meetings with airports, which are helping us maintain existing relationships as well as build new ones with potential future services.” This proactive approach to stakeholder engagement is expected to fuel further expansion of the carrier’s network, ultimately delivering even greater travel opportunities for passengers.
Sun Country Airlines’ impressive performance in 2024 is evident from its operational milestones: the airline flew more than 4.2 million passengers during the year and set a record on July 21 with 147 scheduled flights carrying over 25,000 travelers in a single day. The success story was further solidified when Sun Country was named Low-Cost Carrier of the Year at the CAPA Global Aviation Awards for Excellence—a recognition that underscores the airline’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and innovation.
Through strategic vision and relentless determination, Michael Garko continues to drive growth and enhance connectivity for Sun Country Airlines, solidifying its reputation as a dynamic leader in the ULCC market.
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