Sun Country CEO Proclaims Pilot Shortage ‘Over’

Jude Bricker says the airline isn’t struggling with retention and hasn’t had a pilot leave in months.

Zach Vasile

Monday, May 05, 2025 at 09:51 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Sun Country Boeing 737-800 [Shutterstock | Natmac Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker states the pilot shortage is over for his airline, reflecting a broader industry trend of slowing pilot hiring due to filled vacancies and aircraft delivery delays.
Sun Country plans to navigate economic volatility and maintain profit margins by leveraging its flexible business model (scheduled, charter, and cargo) to cut less profitable flights if demand falls.
The airline reported strong first-quarter financial results, with both revenue and net income increasing compared to the previous year.

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Sun Country CEO Jude Bricker said there are several reasons to feel bullish about the Minneapolis-based low-cost carrier, but perhaps the most critical is that the pilot shortage—which seriously challenged the airline industry in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, is now a thing of the past.

“We spent a lot of time talking about the pilot shortage,” Bricker said during Sun Country’s quarterly earnings call. “That’s over. A pilot hasn’t left Sun Country in, like, 90 days. So that’s just not an issue anymore.”