Document ID: DOT-OST-2001-10711-0032
Agency: dot
Document Type: Notice
Title: Notice of Sun Country Airlines, Inc.
Posted Date: 2001-11-26T05:00Z

BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

__________________________________________

							:

REPORTS ON SIGNIFICANT AIRLINE		:	Docket OST-01-10711

SERVICE REDUCTIONS				:

__________________________________________:

NOTICE OF SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES, INC.

Communications with respect to this document should be sent to:

DAVID BANMILLER				EDWARD P.FABERMAN

President and CEO					MICHELLE M. FAUST

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES, INC.			UNGARETTI & HARRIS

2520 Pilot Knob Road					1500 K Street, NW

Suite 250						Suite 250

Mendota Heights, MN  55120			Washington, DC 20005

Tel: (651) 681-3900					Tel: (202) 659-7500

Fax: (651) 681-3970					Fax: (202) 659-7505

							Attorneys for

							SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES

DATED:	November 26, 2001



BEFORE THE

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

WASHINGTON, D.C.

__________________________________________

							:

REPORTS ON SIGNIFICANT AIRLINE		:	Docket OST-01-10711

SERVICE REDUCTIONS				:

__________________________________________:

NOTICE OF SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES, INC.

Pursuant to Order 2001-9-20, Sun Country Airlines, Inc. (“Sun
Country”) hereby gives notice that it will temporarily cease service
from Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) to Washington, DC (IAD) and New York
(JFK) on November 30, 2001 and service to Phoenix, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and San Diego on December 1, 2001.  Sun Country requests a
waiver to the 15 day notice required by the Order because its
termination of service will have minimal impact on communities given
that Northwest Airlines continues to provide nonstop service between MSP
and the aforementioned large markets.  In a number of these markets,
Northwest has hundreds of seats available. In addition, each one of
these markets can be served on a one-stop basis.

While all air carriers have suffered financially since September 11th,
small carriers have been significantly impacted.  Unlike their larger
counterparts, small carriers cannot quickly shift multiple fights
between multiple markets. In addition, Sun Country has been limited in
entering primary markets such as DCA because of government restrictions
and only recently received LGA slot exemptions.  Sun Country, like other
small carriers, has faced other hurdles that make it more difficult for
it to compete.  A number of these issues have not yet been addressed. 
Although the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act has
provided some relief to all carriers, some payments under the Act have
not been timely made for a variety of reasons.  As a result, the delays
have further increased the problems faced by small carriers.

Sun Country has made every attempt to stimulate demand and cut costs,
but unfortunately that has not been sufficient.  Bookings are at an all
time low. For the month of December, bookings are as follows: 

IAD	10%

JFK	11%

LAX	20%

SAN	61%

PHX	36%

SFO	20%

Sun Country cannot continue to suffer these type of losses which
threaten its very survival, particularly as events continue to occur
that discourage travel and tourism.  Those events are not under the
control of Sun Country.

MSP-IAD

Effective November 30, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to IAD.
Northwest Airlines currently provides five nonstop flights between
MSP-IAD, five nonstop flights between MSP-DCA and three nonstop flights
between MSP-BWI.

	MSP-JFK

Effective November 30, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to JFK. 
Northwest currently provides one nonstop and seven connecting flights
between MSP-JFK, six nonstop flights between MSP-LGA, and five nonstop
flights between MSP-EWR.  

MSP-PHX

Effective December 1, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to PHX. 
Northwest currently provides eight nonstop flights between MSP-PHX.

MSP-SFO

Effective December 1, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to SFO. 
Northwest currently provides five nonstop flights between MSP-SFO.  

MSP-LAX

Effective December 1, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to LAX. 
Northwest currently provides six nonstop flights between MSP-LAX.

MSP-SAN

Effective December 1, 2001, Sun Country will cease service to SAN. 
Northwest currently provides four nonstop flights between MSP-SAN.

Sun Country regrets that it will not be able to continue its service
from MSP to these markets.  Sun Country provides the only real price
competition at MSP, the Northwest dominated hub.  The temporary loss of
Sun Country service means that passengers will inevitably lose fare
competition.  Sun Country hopes to be in a position in the near future
to reinstate this service.

						Respectfully Submitted,

						______________________

						Edward P. Faberman

						UNGARETTI & HARRIS

						1500 K Street, NW

						Suite 250

						Washington, DC  20005

						Tel: (202) 659-7500

						Fax: (202) 659-7505

DATED:	November 26, 2001

  Sun Country does not concede that Order 2001-9-20 precludes carriers
from terminating services on less than 15 days notice in the absence of
statutory authority requiring a carrier to remain in a market.

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