ABE’s main carrier wants to buy rival with slate of international destinations | Allentown Area
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The airline with the largest presence at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) has announced a major merger.
Allegiant is acquiring Sun Country Airlines in a $1.5 billion deal.
“The combination will create a leading leisure-focused U.S. airline, expanding service to more popular vacation destinations across the United States, as well as international destinations, and providing more people with access to affordable, convenient air travel,” Allegiant said, in a news release.
Allegiant is one of four airlines that serve ABE, alongside Delta, United and American. But Allegiant offers more nonstop destinations from ABE than the other three carriers combined.
According to the airport’s website, Allegiant currently offers nonstop flights from ABE to ten destinations, primarily in Florida. Options outside the Sunshine State are Denver, Colo.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Last year, Allegiant and Lehigh Valley International celebrated their 20-year partnership. The Las Vegas-based carrier began flying out of the Hanover Township, Lehigh County hub in 2005; it opened a crew base there in 2020.
Allegiant operates out of over 100 airports across the United States but does not currently offer international destinations. But that will change if the merger with Sun Country Airlines goes through.
According to the news release, the combined airline will offer more than 650 routes: 551 from Allegiant and 105 from Sun Country. Allegiant customers will have access to expanded service from the carrier’s small and mid-sized cities to 18 international destinations, the release said.
Founded in 1982, Sun Country Airlines is based in Minneapolis, Minn. The low-cost carrier offers nonstop destinations across the U.S., as well as Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Sun Country also has a cargo business, with customers that include Amazon Prime Air.
Following the close of the merger, Allegiant will continue to be the publicly held parent company, and the combined company will continue under the Allegiant name. Allegiant CEO Gregory Anderson will serve as Chief Executive Officer, and Robert Neal will serve as President and Chief Financial Officer. Sun Country President and CEO Jude Bricker will join the board of directors, alongside two additional Sun Country board members, expanding the size of the Allegiant board to 11. The combined company will be headquartered in Las Vegas.
For now, each airline will operate separately until a single operating certificate is obtained from the FAA.
There will be no immediate impact to ticketing or flight schedules, Allegiant said.
The proposed merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Allegiant and Sun Country will conduct a live conference call and webcast to discuss the transaction on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m..
