Summary
- Sun Country Airlines is about to compete with Frontier Airlines on a brand new nonstop route between Minneapolis and Cleveland.
- Sun Country’s announcement was a direct response to Frontier’s recent expansion, demonstrating tense competition between the 2 ultra-low-cost carriers.
- Sun Country goals to keep up its dominant position within the Minneapolis market by offering a greater passenger experience while maintaining the identical level of affordability as Frontier.
On January 24, Sun Country Airlines, an ultra-low-cost passenger and cargo airline headquartered in Minneapolis, announced it could begin flying nonstop from its hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) starting in May. This recent service will operate 4 times per week, occurring Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday starting May 17 and continuing through Labor Day weekend.
Today’s news comes on the heels of a large network expansion by Frontier Airlines, which augmented connectivity at 38 different airports across the US. Notably, the carrier’s latest move involved an identical route expansion between Cleveland and Minneapolis.
Within the low-cost market, competition is every little thing, and carriers will go to great lengths to keep up their market share, especially on up-and-coming routes. Now, Frontier and Sun Country are set to go toe to toe this summer on this nonstop connection between two cities within the Upper Midwest.
An interesting expansion
On the surface, Sun Country flying one other route that competes with a recent launch from Frontier will not be all that surprising. As an alternative, the character of the carrier’s announcement points directly towards its competitor.
When Frontier launched its most up-to-date flight expansion to Minneapolis/St. Paul, they included not only recent services to Cleveland but to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), and Dallas/Fort Value International Airport (DFW) as well. In a press release regarding the announcement, Sun Country was quick to defend its routes to those three cities while also promoting its Cleveland expansion as follows:
“Cleveland joins 98 other airports that Sun Country will serve non-stop from MSP in 2024. Amongst others, Sun Country notably serves Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), and Dallas Fort Value International Airport (DFW) with schedules which might be timed well for purchasers.”
Photo: Sun Country Airlines
One other key factor that points to tense competition over these routes is Sun Country and Frontier’s inaugural fares on its recent flights from Cleveland. According to information from Frontier, introductory fares on its routes from CLE to MSP shall be as little as $19, a number that Sun Country has matched.
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The airline expects to hold over 9,000 passengers on the 2 routes combined.
A key stronghold
This expansion is undoubtedly motivated by Sun Country’s desire to keep up low-cost market dominance at its Minneapolis hub. It has done so by ensuring that Frontier shall be unable to achieve a competitive edge by way of convenience and price. The carrier’s rhetoric regarding the announcement has been quick to support this view, with the airline’s Chief Revenue Officer, Grant Whitney, issuing the next statement:
“Because the leading leisure airline in Minneapolis-St. Paul, we’re excited so as to add Cleveland to our expanding network. As well as, our recent customers from Cleveland will experience great customer support and affordability that differentiates us from other leisure airlines.”
Photo: Sun Country Airlines
Clearly, Sun Country has felt threatened by Frontier’s latest expansion and believes that with this recent route, it should find a way to counter its competitor’s latest move and maintain its strong position in a vital market. With a greater passenger experience than Frontier, including free in-flight entertainment and complimentary beverages, including water, coffee, tea, juices, and soda, passengers may select Sun Country over its rival, with equal prices.
Such a maneuver will not be unfamiliar throughout the airline industry and is traditionally done to discourage other airlines from difficult them at their hubs. Increased competition will profit passengers, resembling those in Cleveland and Minneapolis, who now have two recent inexpensive travel options.