This week, Sun Country Airlines announced it will begin seasonal service from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Portland, OR beginning June 9, 2016 through January 3, 2017. Flights will operate four to six times a week depending on the season.
This newest route is one of 14 set to launch in 2016 from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit and Sun Country have all added routes. Below are the airline names, destinations and service start dates for each route.
- Alaska Airlines (1): Portland (PDX) 2/18/2016
- American Airlines (3): New York-LaGuardia (LGA) 1/4/2016, Washington-National (DCA) 4/5/2016 and Los Angeles (LAX) 6/2/2016
- Frontier Airlines (2): Orlando (MCO) 2/18/2016 and Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) 4/15/2016
- Southwest Airlines (1): Baltimore-Washington (BWI) 4/12/2016
- Spirit Airlines (3): Atlanta (ATL) 4/14/2016; Boston (BOS) 4/14/2016 and Philadelphia (PHL) 4/14/2016
- Sun Country Airlines (2): Denver (DEN) 5/2/2016 and Portland (PDX) 6/9/2016
- Delta Air Lines (2): Rome, IT (FCO) 5/26/2016 and Reykjavik, IS (KEF) 5/26/2016
This latest news comes on the heels of the highest percentage, year-over-year, passenger growth since before 2005. Passenger numbers at MSP were up by more than 4 percent in 2015 over 2014.
"It's an exciting time to be in the airport business," said Jeff Hamiel, executive director/CEO for the Metropolitan Airports Commission - owner and operator of MSP and six general aviation airports. "We are fortunate in Minnesota to be experiencing an economic rebound that translated into steady growth in both business and leisure travel over the past five years."
