Sun Country Airlines Leases Two 737-800s to flydubai
Sun Country Airlines (SY), based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, has decided to lease out two B737-800s originally slated for service in the fourth quarter of 2023. This delay is attributed to “growth moderation” resulting from pilot staffing constraints, as revealed by Chief Executive Jude Bricker during a recent quarterly earnings call.
Bricker explained, “This will delay the entry into service of two B737-800s planned for the fourth quarter of 2023 until the first quarter of 2025. Aircraft are generally in high demand, as much of the aviation industry deals with production delays on new narrowbodies and service disruptions from the [Pratt & Whitney] GTF. So, we’ll make good returns on these aircraft until we’re able to fully utilize them.”
Sun Country Airlines has confirmed that the two B737s will be leased to flydubai, a notable move amid the industry’s challenges and disruptions.
According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Sun Country Airlines currently operates forty-two B737-800s, with ownership of 33. The airline also manages a single B737-700 for a dedicated charter contract and twelve B737-800(BCF)s flying for Amazon.com. Recently, the airline acquired five B737-900ERs, leased to Oman Air (WY, Muscat) until late 2025.
President and Chief Financial Officer Dave Davis provided additional insight, stating, “Those [B737-900ERs] start to come off lease and redeliver to us in November of 2024. So that’s incremental aircraft in 2025. So that’s seven incremental [aircraft in 2025, including the two -800s]. And we may or may not be in the market for one or two more. The good news here is that between improved utilization and the aircraft we already have in the pipeline, the CapEx for those has largely been incurred already. So, we think we’re in a great position from a fleet perspective.”
Sun Country Airlines is strategically managing its fleet in response to industry dynamics, seeking to optimize returns and maintain flexibility in a challenging environment.