The quiet corners of America's budget airline industry were rocked this week after Allegiant confirmed it will buy Sun Country Airlines in a blockbuster deal worth £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) including debt. The move will create one of the largest leisure-focused carriers in the United States, reshaping the competitive landscape of low-cost aviation.
For years, both airlines have quietly carved out profitable niches away from the glare of the big four US carriers. Now, with this merger, Allegiant and Sun Country are betting that scale, complementary networks and financial muscle will allow them to thrive in a market battered by rising costs and fierce competition.
