How the Proposed Allegiant/Sun Country Merger Could Affect Pittsburgh

Ultra-low-cost carriers Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines are merging in the latest shakeup of the U.S. airline industry that isn’t expected to have a significant impact at Pittsburgh International Airport in the near future.

Allegiant and Sun Country announced the $1.5 billion transaction on Jan. 11 with the goal of creating a larger, more competitive leisure-focused airline. The combined company will retain the Allegiant name and brand and expects to serve 22 million customers annually in nearly 175 cities across more than 650 routes.

The company will retain Allegiant’s Las Vegas headquarters but will maintain a significant presence in Minneapolis, where Sun Country is based. Allegiant also has an important base at PIT.

The carriers expect to complete the merger in the second half of 2026, subject to approval from federal antitrust regulators. Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson will lead the combined company while Sun Country CEO Jude Brickner will join its board of directors.

Allegiant and Sun Country said the merger combines both airlines’ complementary route networks, giving consumers a larger network of destinations both domestic and international. It will also merge Allegiant and Sun Country’s respective frequent flier programs and membership benefits.

“This combination is an exciting next chapter in Allegiant and Sun Country’s shared mission in providing affordable, reliable, and convenient service from underserved communities to premier leisure destinations,” Anderson said in a statement.

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Allegiant and Sun Country are combining to create a leading, more competitive leisure-focused U.S. airline!

Together, we’ll expand service to more popular vacation destinations across the United States, as well as international… pic.twitter.com/ofVkXMVg7d

— Allegiant Air (@Allegiant) January 11, 2026

Allegiant operates a network of more than 550 routes connecting leisure destinations from small and medium-sized markets across the U.S., while Sun Country operates 105 routes, with most connecting its Minneapolis base to major markets throughout North America. The combination will connect Sun Country’s Minneapolis base to Allegiant’s mid-sized markets and expand nonstop service to popular vacation spots with a continued focus on underserved markets across the U.S.

Allegiant will also inherit Sun Country’s international service to Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, giving customers access to 18 international destinations.

It will mark Allegiant’s first foray into scheduled international routes; while Allegiant has previously served destinations such as Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the airline has mainly served the continental U.S. since it began operations in 1999. Allegiant planned international routes coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic through a joint venture with Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier VivaAerobus in 2021, which has been indefinitely delayed by the U.S. Department of Transportation due to ongoing disagreements between U.S. and Mexican authorities over airline competition in certain markets.

The merger will also combine Allegiant’s Airbus and Boeing aircraft with Sun Country’s Boeing fleet for a combined total of 195 aircraft, diversifying the merged company’s fleet and enabling it to source additional aircraft from new and existing markets for operational and financial flexibility. The two airlines also acknowledged an additional 30 aircraft on order with 80 options, including Allegiant’s new 737 MAX 8-200s, part of a major order it placed with Boeing in 2022.

Additionally, Allegiant says it will absorb Sun Country’s multi-year agreement with Amazon Prime Air and expand Sun Country’s charter contracts with casinos, Major League Soccer, college sports teams and the U.S. military, providing the combined company additional revenue streams and maximizing aircraft and crew utilization.

The merger’s impact on Pittsburgh

While both Allegiant and Sun Country operate at PIT, the merger is not expected to have a significant effect on each carrier’s operations in the near future.

“Allegiant and Sun Country share no overlap with their flights at PIT, and we do not anticipate any immediate changes in service,” said Bryan Dietz, PIT’s Senior Vice President of Air Service and Commercial Development. “As part of PIT’s air service diversification strategy, Allegiant and Sun Country are key partners that have brought more nonstop destinations and lowered fares to our region, and we will continue to work with both carriers as they go through the regulatory approval process of their merger agreement.”

Allegiant has served PIT since 2015 and has steadily grown to offer 14 nonstop destinations, the second-most of any airline at the airport, as well as scheduled charter service to Cancun and Punta Cana for tour operators Apple Vacations and Vacation Express.

Allegiant also provides local aviation jobs through its PIT base with pilots, flight attendants and mechanics, and stations up to four Airbus A320 aircraft at the airport, depending on the season.

Sun Country operates seasonal nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Minneapolis since entering the market with scheduled passenger service in 2022; the carrier is scheduled to resume its season on the Pittsburgh-Minneapolis route on May 28 with twice-weekly flights on Thursdays and Sundays through Aug. 16.

In addition, Sun Country operates Amazon’s twice daily cargo service at PIT, which includes flights to Fort Worth, Texas, and Lakeland, Florida, which started in 2021.

During a conference call on Jan. 14, Allegiant and Sun Country said they will work together to combine both carrier’s networks and evaluate market opportunities resulting from the merger.

BJ Neal, Allegiant’s President and Chief Financial Officer, said growth opportunities will include connecting dots between complementary networks, serving international leisure destinations from Allegiant’s origin markets and increasing frequencies on existing routes. “With our expanded and flexible fleet, we’re well positioned to unlock significant market growth opportunities across the combined network.”

As for cargo operations, Anderson said Allegiant expects Amazon will remain a key piece of its business post-merger: “We’ve had multiple discussions leading up to this announcement with Amazon… so we’re confident in this partnership continuing and we look forward to maintaining the same reliable service levels that are being provided today by the Sun Country team around the cargo flying.”

Following the merger, Sun Country announced it will add two more Boeing 737-800 freighters to its Amazon contract by this spring increasing its cargo fleet to 22 total aircraft.