Sun-Air of Scandinavia

Sun-Air of Scandinavia

Dornier 328JET
IATA ICAO Call sign EZ SUS SUNSCAN
Founded	1978 (1978)
Hubs	Billund Airport
Fleet size	8
Destinations	0 (scheduled)
Headquarters	Billund, Denmark
Key people	Niels Sundberg (Owner, CEO and pilot) Kristoffer Sundberg (co-CEO and pilot)
Website	www.sun-air.dk

Sun-Air of Scandinavia A/S,^[1] usually shortened Sun-Air,^[2] is a Danish charter airline headquartered in Billund,^[3] with its main base at Billund Airport. It used to operate scheduled services as a franchise of British Airways using their name and corporate design as British Airways - operated by SUN-AIR of Scandinavia A/S. The airline announced it would end its scheduled operations in March 2025^[4] and concentrate on charter flights, air taxi services, specialist aerial work and aircraft brokerage services.

The airline was established by Niels Sundberg in 1978 and commenced operations in that same year. The company initially operated solely as an air taxi and charter service. During 1987, the decision was taken to develop the company into a regional airline.^[5] Flights on Lufthansa behalf lasted from 1990 to 1991 when the air carrier went on operating on its own.

On 1 August 1996, Sun-Air became a franchisee of the large United Kingdom-based airline British Airways, being the first regional airline outside of the UK to commit to a franchise agreement with the airline.^[6] Starting that month, Sun-Air services would form a network linking with British Airways' own services at Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.^[7][8] Under the British Airways franchisee arrangement, all scheduled services were operated under the British Airways Express brand.^[6] In accordance with this branding, Sun-Air's scheduled flights are operated with British Airways logo and trademark being prominently displayed on the fuselages. During the late 1990s, Danish artist Per Arnoldi designed the tail art for the new livery applied to Sun-Air's fleet; the livery has since been redesigned to incorporate the Union Jack flag on the tailfin instead.^[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-seat British Aerospace Jetstream 31s and two 30-seat British Aerospace Jetstream 41s.^[7]

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.^[6] During the late 1990s, Sun-Air initiated a long-term plan to introduce jet-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-hand British Aerospace ATPs in late 1997.^[9] During 2001, in response to a complaint by Sun-Air, rival airlines Scandinavian Airlines and Maersk Air were fined around €52 million ($44 million) for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour following an investigation by the European Union.^[10]

During 2009, it was decided to restructure Sun-Air's charter division, leading to it being rebranded as JoinJet; Niels Sundberg's son, Kristoffer Sundberg, was appointed to head this subsidiary.^[5] Focusing largely on business 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, and luggage as default since 2009.^[5] The airline has been awarded multiple prizes related to its service quality, including the award of Best European Airline at the Danish Travel Awards.^[5]

In April 2014, Sun-Air launched a new daily services between Billund and Zürich in Switzerland, served by its Dornier 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 to London and Manchester which were both operated by Sun-Air; the latter had maintained a base for these routes at Bremen 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 the COVID-19 pandemic, Sun-Air terminated several routes.^[15] In January 2021, the company filed for insolvency for its German operational subsidiary Sun-Air of Germany and laid off most of its Germany based staff.^[16]

In March 2025, Sun-Air stopped its last remaining scheduled route between Billund Airport and London-City, ending 34 years of scheduled operations and their affiliation with British Airways. Citing a changed market, the airline uncovered plans to focus on any kind of not scheduled operations.^[4]

As of 2026, it only focuses on charter operations.^[17]

As of April 2024, Sun-Air served the following destinations as a British Airways franchisee:^[18]

As of October 2024, the Sun-Air fleet was made up by these following aircraft:

Sun-Air had previously operated the following aircraft types:

In 1993, Sun-Air opened its workshop at Aarhus Airport.^[5] During 1993, Sun-Air acquired 10% of Thisted-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 the landing gear, composite materials, wheels and brakes.^[5] Following the acquisition of aircraft maintenance company ScanTech (Scandinavian Aircraft Technologies A/S) in November 2014, maintenance of the company's Hawker 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 the South African market to perform aircraft maintenance and overhaul services.^[5]

+ Doug Birch, "Sun Rise", Commuter World monthly magazine, U.S.A., August 1997

Media related to SUN-AIR of Scandinavia at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website