Sun Country’s Duluth to Fort Myers flights set to resume

Sun country will resume its seasonal direct flights between Duluth, Minnesota and Fort Myers, Florida, from February 2nd to April 24th, 2024, and seats will be sold for as low as $70 one way.

The timing of this service corresponds with the expected annual spike in demand to travel from Duluth’s chilly climate to warmer environs.

The services initially began in 2021 with a second seasonal flight to Phoenix, Arizona but airport officials say the Phoenix route will not be available during this period.

Duluth International Airport Director of Communication Natalie Baker says pilot shortage and low number of passenger traffic on the Phoenix route led to the suspension of that leg.

“We’re excited to be welcoming Sun Country back. It’ll be their third year flying out of Duluth with direct flights and they’ll be operating on Mondays and Fridays. Unfortunately, with the pilot shortage, the airlines have been taking a hard look at different routes that they’ve been offering. And the previous year, Phoenix did not perform in the regional market as they had hoped.”

Natalie also spoke about recent facility upgrades at the airport.

“We are now finishing up year two of an eight-year project for our primary taxiway reconstruction. And we’re also working on new hangar space. We have not constructed a new hangar space in almost 20 years. So right now, we’re working on the construction that will be offering five hangar bays and one building. It’ll be heated and finished, which is a different product offering than other hangars that we had.

She says if more people do fly local, that will boost traffic and help them expand services.