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| Founded | 1978; 48 years ago (1978) | ||||||
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| Hubs | Billund Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 8 | ||||||
| Destinations | 0 (scheduled) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Billund,Denmark | ||||||
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| Website | www | ||||||
SUN-AIR of ScandinaviaA/S,[1] usually shortened toSUN-AIR,[2] is aDanish charter airline headquartered inBillund,[3] with its main base atBillund Airport. It used to operate scheduled services as afranchise ofBritish Airways using their name andcorporate design asBritish Airways - operated by SUN-AIR of Scandinavia A/S. The airline announced it would end its scheduled operations in 2025[4] and now offers charter flights, air taxi services, specialist aerial work and aircraft brokerage services.
The airline was established by Niels Sundberg and commenced operations in 1978. The company initially operated solely as anair taxi and charter service. During 1987, the decision was taken to develop the company into aregional airline.[5] By 1996, the airline was conducting around 250 departures each week and carrying roughly 120,000 passengers annually; at the time, Sun-Air's fleet comprises ten 18-seatBritish Aerospace Jetstream 31s and two 30-seatBritish Aerospace Jetstream 41s.[6]
In 1993, Sun-Air opened its workshop atAarhus Airport.[5] During 1993, Sun-Air acquired 10% ofThisted-based North-West Air Service; over the following years, it would purchase the company outright. Sun-Air's maintenance division largely focuses on performing extensive aircraft overhauls, commonly replacing elements such as thelanding gear,composite materials, wheels andbrakes.[5] Following the acquisition of aircraft maintenance company ScanTech (Scandinavian Aircraft Technologies A/S) in November 2014, maintenance of the company'sHawker Beechcraft aircraft was moved to the latter's facilities at Sindal Airport shortly thereafter. On 1 May 2016,Sun-Air Technic was formed by the merger of ScanTech and Sun–Air's workshops and warehouses.[5] In 2015, Sun-Air acquired shares in Avex Technical, leading to the company cooperating with Avex Air in theSouth African market to perform aircraft maintenance and overhaul services.[5]
On 1 August 1996, Sun-Air became afranchisee of the largeUnited Kingdom-based airlineBritish Airways, being the first regional airline outside of the UK to commit to a franchise agreement with the airline.[7] Starting that month, Sun-Air services would form a network linking with British Airways' own services atCopenhagen,Oslo andStockholm.[6][8]
Under the British Airways franchisee arrangement, all scheduled services were operated under theBritish Airways Express brand; this name had already been applied to other airline's services via separate arrangements, includingBrymon Airways,CityFlyer Express,Loganair andManx Airlines.[7] In accordance with this branding, Sun-Air's scheduled flights are operated with British Airways logos being prominently displayed in their corporate design. During the late 1990s, Danish artistPer Arnoldi designed the tail art for the newlivery applied to Sun-Air's fleet; the livery has since been redesigned to incorporate theUnion Jack flag on the tailfin instead.[5]
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Part of the reason Sun-Air had agreed to become a franchisee was to gain a strategic partner, particularly one that would be able and willing to assist in its growth and the acquisition of larger aircraft.[7] During the late 1990s, Sun-Air initiated a long-term plan to introducejet-powered airliners into its fleet by 2000. As a step towards this, and to help it handle increasing passenger traffic on its routes between Denmark and Britain, it acquired a pair of second-handBritish Aerospace ATPs in late 1997.[9] During 2001, in response to a complaint by Sun-Air, rival airlinesScandinavian Airlines andMaersk Air were fined around €52 million ($44 million) for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour following an investigation by theEuropean Union.[10]
During 2009, it was decided to restructure Sun-Air's charter division, leading to it being rebranded asJoinJet; Niels Sundberg's son, Kristoffer Sundberg, was appointed to head this subsidiary.[5] Focusing largely onbusiness jet operations, JoinJet taken steps to build an individual identity, including the adoption of a unique livery and distinct logo.[11] It maintains a separate employee roster, which includes pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, and its own sales team.[5]
According to Sun-Air, the company has traditionally placed an emphasis on providing passengers with a comprehensive service; as such, all scheduled flights have included provisions for meals, drinks, andluggage as default since 2009.[5] The airline has been awarded multiple prizes related to its service quality, including the award ofBest European Airline at the Danish Travel Awards.[5]
In April 2014, Sun-Air launched a new daily services betweenBillund andZürich in Switzerland, served by itsDornier 328Jets.[12] During the 2010s, Sun-Air became the biggest civil operator of the 328JET.[13] On 25 February 2017, British Airways terminated its flights from Bremen toLondon andManchester which were both operated by Sun-Air; the latter had maintained a base for these routes atBremen Airport.[14]
During 2017, Kristoffer Sundberg took over as CEO of Sun-Air while Niels Sundberg remained chairman of the board. The airline is wholly owned by Niels Sundberg and had 175 employees as of 2019.[5]
In the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Sun-Air terminated several routes.[15] In January 2021, the company filed forinsolvency for its German operational subsidiarySun-Air of Germany and laid off most of its Germany based staff.[16]
In March 2025, Sun-Air announced it would terminate its last remaining scheduled route betweenBillund Airport andLondon-City by the end of the same month, ending 34 years of scheduled operations and their British Airways franchising. Citing a changed market, the airline plans to focus on charter flights instead.[4]
As of April 2024, SUN-AIR of Scandinavia has previously served the following destinations as a British Airways franchisee:[17]
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Brussels | Brussels Airport | Terminated |
| Denmark | Aarhus | Aarhus Airport | Terminated |
| Billund | Billund Airport | Terminated | |
| France | Toulouse | Toulouse Airport | Terminated |
| Germany | Bremen | Bremen Airport | Terminated |
| Düsseldorf | Düsseldorf Airport | Terminated | |
| Friedrichshafen | Friedrichshafen Airport | Terminated | |
| Hamburg | Hamburg Airport | Terminated | |
| Munich | Munich Airport | Terminated | |
| Norway | Bergen | Bergen Airport, Flesland | Terminated |
| Oslo | Oslo Airport, Gardermoen | Terminated | |
| Stavanger | Stavanger Airport, Sola | Terminated | |
| Sweden | Gothenburg | Göteborg Landvetter Airport | Terminated |
| Stockholm | Stockholm Bromma Airport | Terminated | |
| United Kingdom | Cambridge | Cambridge City Airport | Terminated |
| Kingston upon Hull | Humberside Airport | Terminated | |
| London | London City Airport | Terminated | |
| Manchester | Manchester Airport | Terminated |
As of October 2024, the SUN-AIR of Scandinavia fleet consists of the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dornier 328JET | 8 | 32 | 4 operated underBritish Airways franchise until March 2025[4]. 3 operated forJoinJet. 1 stored. | |
| Total | 8 | |||
SUN-Air of Scandinavia has previously operated the following aircraft types:[citation needed]
| Subtypes | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAe ATP | 3 | 1997 | 2006 | |
| BAe Jetstream 41 | 2 | 1993 | 2005 | |
| Dornier 328-100 | 10 | 2005 | 2017 | |
| Total | 25 |
Media related toSUN-AIR of Scandinavia at Wikimedia Commons
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