Ultra low-cost carrier to fly nonstop from Portland to Minnesota

Courtesy / Portland International Jetport Portland International Jetport announced Tuesday that a low-cost carrier, Sun Country Airlines, will begin service to Minneapolis-St. Paul.

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By Staff

Portland International Jetport said Tuesday that Sun Country Airlines will begin nonstop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul in June, and operate flights twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays.

Sun Country Airlines, an ultra low-cost carrier, is based in Eagan, Minn., and was acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC in 2018.

"We are thrilled to have Sun Country joining our lineup of airlines," said airport director Ray Bradbury in a statement. "Minneapolis-St. Paul is a very strong market for the Jetport, and we know from our passengers that non-stop services is a major selling point, not just for departing, but also arriving home."

Grant Whitney, Sun Country's chief revenue officer, said the carrier is excited to welcome the Jetport to its growing network.

"We're committed to affordably connecting guests to their favorite people, places and memories, and we look forward to bringing that commitment to Portland," he added. "We think guests will enjoy our low fares, great customer service and comfortable onboard experience."

The carrier addition comes a week after Standard & Poor's Global Ratings raised its long-term credit rating on Jetport Revenue Bonds to A- from BBB+, citing the airport's strong enterprise risk and financial risk profiles.

Specifically, credit analysts pointed to an origin and destination airport with a stable and expanding baseline of demand and diverse carrier mix, though offset by some regional competition.

Bradbury said the upgrade "is acknowledgement of our strong financial standing and solid passenger and revenue growth over the pas three years."

The Jetport adds an estimated $1 billion annually to the local economy and provides nonstop service to 21 destinations on eight carriers.

United Airlines began nonstop seasonal flights to Denver this summer, while Denver-based Frontier Airlines came to the Jetport in July 2018. Besides Denver, it flies to Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Fort Myers and Orlando in Florida.