Sun Country Airlines to paint its airplanes, asks employees to pick design

Sun Country Airlines is giving its planes a new paint job, and the company's executives are asking the employees to choose.

The designs being put to an employee vote keep the airline's current signature orange and blue colors, but they put greater emphasis on orange.

Employees can first choose between options for the overall paint job, or livery in industry parlance. They will then be asked to select between the airline's traditional logo or a more modern version for its tail design.

Brian Davis, senior vice president of commercial, solicited employee feedback in a memo Monday. Sun Country workers have until Tuesday evening to vote for their favorite new look for the airplanes' exterior.

It's the latest in a series of changes announced by the Eagan-based carrier since its new management team and owner took over in recent months.

Davis told the Star Tribune last week that the airline is canceling its Hometown Lakes project, which was announced last year under the previous ownership and management. Instead, he said in Monday's memo, the new livery options give a nod to Minnesota's lakes by incorporating Lake Minnetonka's depth chart into the design.

"As we move through this transition, it is important that we signal to our customers that, while we fully intend to stay connected to our roots, a New Day is on the horizon," Davis told employees. "One of the most visible and obvious ways we can do that is with our aircraft."

Kristen Leigh Painter • 612-673-4767