CDB Aviation, a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing, delivered the first of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Sun Country Airlines, a Minnesota-based airline.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with our colleagues at Sun Country on executing this transaction for two Boeing aircraft from our portfolio, which will facilitate the further build-out of the carrier’s highly-adaptable network structure,” Luís da Silva, head of commercial in the Americas for CDB Aviation, said.

The aircraft are configured with 183 seats in a single economy-class layout and will be operated on seasonal, point-to-point routes. The second aircraft’s delivery is expected to occur in early 2022.

“We are excited to commence a new and valued partnership with CDB Aviation. These two aircraft are key to meeting our near-term growth plans and reflect Sun Country’s exceptional ability to grow its fleet with strategic partners throughout the world,” Thomas Frey, director of fleet and fuel for Sun Country, said.

“Sun Country’s unique model and distinct network proved exceptionally advantageous in navigating the pandemic’s headwinds and better positioning the carrier for air travel’s recovery,” Peter Goodman, chief marketing officer of CDB Aviation, said. “Our commercial team worked swiftly to provide the airline, which operates in a key focus market for our platform, with immediate access to additional aircraft capacity, supporting their network expansion.”