USDOT Approves Allegiant / Sun Country Merger

The US Department of Transportation gave approval for the merger between Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines to proceed, with an expected closing date in mid-May. The two carriers will operate separately until a single operating certificate is obtained some time within the next 14 months.

Further information in this Aviation Week article.

With both airlines operating separately, it remains to be seen if Sun Country will fly Mountain West football teams to HNL for road games against the Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors for the 2026 season.

Allegiant Airlines To Acquire Sun Country Airlines

Allegiant Airlines and Sun Country Airlines announced today that the former will acquire the latter in a cash and stock deal valued at over US$1.5B. This newly combined airline is subject to government regulations, then a single operating certificate under Allegiant's name, and headquartered in Las Vegas. Both airlines will continue to operate until the merger is approved.

Allegiant is currently adding the 737-8-200 to its fleet, with an initial order of 50 737-7s and 737-8-200s, with an option  for an additional 50, in January 2022. Currently, Allegiant as 16 737-8-200s in service, among its fleet of 127 airliners. In October 2023, the airline added an additional options for 80 more 737MAX. These 737MAXs will be replacing their Airbus A319-100 and A320-200s. Allegiant used to fly from HNL to LAS (then other cities) using 757-200s from 2012 to 2016.

Sun Country Airlines has a fleet of 68 737NGs, 65 737-800s and 3 737-900ERs. The airline does fly to HNL for college football charters for some of the Mountain West Conference opponents. Sun Country also has a twice-weekly charter flight between LAX and KOA as SCX8501/8502, with its VIP cabin-configured N839SY. The Minneapolis-based airline also has a subfleet of 20 737-800Fs flying for Amazon Prime Air. Sun Country also has two more 737-900ERs that have yet to be delivered from their purchase from Oman Air.

Further information in this Allegiant Airlines press release, and this Sun Country Airlines press release.

12 January 2026 UPDATE

FreightWaves.com reports that Sun Country they will add two 737-800Fs for their Amazon Prime Air operations.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3274

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3274 (msn 5669), their latest A320-214 acquired from Cebu Pacific. It's making its delivery flight from CRK to IWA, via MNL, GUM, and HNL. This A320 will be re-registered as N188NV.

RP-C3274's History:

Jly 2013: Delivered to Cebu Pacific.

___ 2018: Painted in current livery.

Jun 2023: Withdrawn from service, and stored at CRK.

Allegiant Air's' RP-C3273

Allegiant Air has acquired RP-C3273 (msn 5496) from Cebu Pacific, and the former owner is delivering this A320-214 from MNL to MLB, via GUM, HNL, and ONT, as CEB3273. It's making an overnight stop at HNL.

RP-C3273's History:

Mar 2013: Delivered to Cebu Pacific Airlines.

___ 2017: Repainted to the current livery.

Mar 2023: Withdrawn from service, and ferried to CGK to repaint into the Allegiant livery.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3266

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3266 (msn 4870), as it makes its delivery flight from MNL to MLB, leased from CDB Leasing. This A320-214 is making stops at GUM, HNL, and ONT, and arrived here early this morning.

4870's History:

Oct 2011: Originally delivered to Cebu Pacific Air as RP-C3266, leased from GECAS.

Jun 2012: Sold to CDB Leasing, and lease transferred.

Jul 2020: Withdrawn from service, and stored at ASP.

Jly 2021: Ferried to CAN for prep Allegiant Air.

Oct 2021: Ferried to MNL.

Allegiant Air's N205NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of its next A320-214, N205NV (msn 5724, f/n 205). It's making its delivery flight from XSP to MLB [Melbourne, FL], via GUM, HNL, and SBD, and will overnight here tonight

5724's History:

Aug 2013: Originally delivered to Peach as JA810P, under lease from GECAS.

Jun 2014: Acquired by Avolon, and lease transferred.

Mar 2021: Withdrawn from service.

Apr 2021: Ferried to XSP for storage, then prepped for lease to Allegiant.

N208NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of N208NV (msn 5640, f/n 208), as this A320-214 transits from XSP to GEG, via GUM, MAJ, and HNL. It left XSP as a white-tail.

5640's History:

Jun 2013: Originally delivered to Peach as JA809P, under lease from GECAS.

Jun 2014: Sold to Avolon, and lease transferred.

Feb 2015: Sold to Fuyo General Lease, and lease transferred.

Feb 2021: Returned to FGL, registered as F-WXAY, and ferried to XSP a month later.

Sep 2021: Purchased by Allegiant Air as N208NV.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3263

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of their latest A320-214, RP-C3263 (msn 4574), as it makes its way from CGK to ONT (via MNL, GUM, and HNL). The stop at HNL was a quick evening fuel stop only. It will be registered as N289NV (f/n 289).

4574's History:

Jan 2011: Delivered to Cebu Pacific as RP-C3263.

Nov 2017: Sold to Arena Aviation Capital and leased back, withdrawn from service in Oct 2020.

Oct 2019: Painted in the current livery.

Dec 2020: Stored at CGK.

Jun 2021: Delivered to Allegiant Air as N289NV.

Allegiant Air's N202NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of an A320-214, N202NV (msn 5440, f/n 202). It's flying from XSP to AMA, via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and TUS as white-tailed N202NV, and will overnight at HNL.

5440's History:

Jan 2013: Delivered to Peach as JA807P, leased from GECAS.

Sep 2013: Spotted wearing the Girls Award special decals.

Dec 2014: Purchased by JP Lease, and lease transferred.

Oct 2020: Returned to lessor and stored at XSP.

Jun 2021: acquired by Allegiant Air as N202NV.

Allegiant Airlines’ RP-C3262

Allegiant Airlines is taking delivery of their latest A320-214, RP-C3262 (msn 4537), and is making an overnight stop at HNL tonight. Its delivery flight route is from CAN to SJO, via MNL, GUM, HNL, and ONT. It will be re-registered as N288NV.

4537’s history

Dec 2010: Originally delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in December 2010. 

Mid-2015: Painted into their current livery.

Nov 2017: Sold to Arena Aviation Capital, and leased back, then withdrawn from service in Sep 2020 and stored at CAN.

Dec 2020: Acquired by Allegiant Airlines.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3261

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of its next A320-214, RP-C3261 (msn 4508). It's making its delivery flight from CAN to BQN (via MNL, GUM, HNL, and ONT) as CEB3261.

4508 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific in December 2010 as RP-C3261, leased from Arena Aviation Capital. It was also painted in the current livery in 2016, and flew with Cebu Pacific until March 2020.

Allegiant Airlines' N286NV

Allegiant Airlines is taking delivery of its next A320-214, N286NV (msn 4447, f/n 286). It's making its delivery flight from HKG to BQN [Aguadilla, PR], via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and TUS. It's making an overnight stop at HNL tonight.

4447 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific in October 2010 as RP-C3260. In 2016, it was painted into the current livery, and flew with CEB until May 2020, then stored at CAN from July to October, when it was flown to HKG to repaint into the Allegiant livery.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3238

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3238 (msn 5067), as it transits from CGK to SFB. This A320-214 was acquired from Cebu Pacific Air. It will be registered as N285NV at SFB.

RP-C3238 was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in March 2012, leased from RBC. Three months later, it was sold to SMBC, and flew with Cebu Pacific until this past February, where it was stored at CGK.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3197

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of a former Cebu Pacific Air A319-111, RP-C3197 (msn 2852). It's making its delivery flight from CAN [Guangzhou, China] to GYR [Goodyear, AZ], via GUM and HNL, as RPC3197.

RP-C3197 was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in August 2006, and flew with the airline until this past January. It was ferried from Manila to Guangzhou for maintenance and repaint.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3195

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of another former Cebu Pacific Air A319-111, with RP-C3195 (msn 2831). The A319 is ferrying from CAN to IND, via GUM, and HNL. It will be registered as N334NV (f/n 334), upon delivery to IND.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3194

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of RP-C3194 (msn 2790), an A319-111 formerly with Cebu Pacific Air. It's making its flight from CAN to the mainland, with stops at GUM, and HNL. It will be re-registered as N333NV once it arrives at Allegiant's base.

Allegiant Air's RP-C3192

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of this A319-111, RP-C3192 (msn 2638). It's ferrying from CAN to GYR, and will be registered as N332NV (f/n 332) after it arrives at GYR.

Allegiant Air's N329NV

Allegiant Air is taking delivery of N329NV (msn 2876). The A319-111 is making its ferry flight from CAN to IND (via GUM, MAJ, HNL, and ONT) as its previous Philippine registry, RP-C3198.

2876 was originally delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in September 2006 as RP-C3198, and was recently acquired by Allegiant.

Allegiant N330NV

A A319-111 formally belonging to Cebu Pacific Air is now heading to the Mainland for Allegiant Air. RP-C3193 (msn 2786) was delivered to Cebu Pacific Air in February 2006. It will become N330NV once delivered to Allegiant.

New Mexico Lobos Team Charter

The University of New Mexico Lobos football team has chartered Allegiant Air's N903NV (c/n 26966, l/n 520) for its game against the University of Hawaii‘i Rainbow Warriors. The flight, AAY4407, arrived early this evening from ABQ (via LAS), and the team will return to ABQ following Saturday evening's game as AAY4408.