San Francisco Bay Area Travelers have a new reason to head to the airport this summer. Sun Country Airlines kicked off its first flight from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) on Thursday, heralding the start of their seasonal nonstop services running through September 1. According to the airport's statement, Sun Country is now the only airline providing nonstop flights to MSP from OAK.

The introduction of the new service, which will exclusively operate in the summer months, was marked by typical airport fanfare, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Craig Simon, Interim Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland, was to warmly welcome Sun Country Airlines, noting the added convenience for both residents and visitors. "This new service between the San Francisco Bay Area and Minneapolis-Saint Paul offers a convenient new choice for residents and visitors alike," Simon said via the airport's website as he encouraged the community to take advantage of the new offering quickly.

Targeting the summer travel boom, the low-cost carrier bets on the attractiveness of Northern California to Minnesotans. "Oakland provides convenient access to California’s national parks and, of course, Wine Country,” said Sun Country's Chief Marketing Officer Colton Snow in the press release. He also pointed out the appeal of Minnesota’s summer and the famed 10,000 lakes, encouraging Californians to explore the northern state's natural beauty. Flights schedules and bookings for the new routes are available, with the airline urging prospective travelers to plan their summer trips at SunCountry.com.

Sun Country Airlines is known for its low-cost fares and extensive network across the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. As it now asserts its presence at OAK, the airline is poised to expand its reach, ensuring Bay Area travelers can more readily indulge in all that Minneapolis-Saint Paul offers.