Aircraft landings and takeoffs grew less than 1 percent, as major airlines continued to shift more flight activity to mainline jets and away from smaller regional aircraft. Even with the increased activity, British air travel consulting firm OAG named MSP best in the world in its size category for on-time flights in 2017, with 85.7 percent of flights departing and arriving on time. That top world ranking is particularly impressive considering MSP’s location in the snow belt – a credit to the world-class MAC snow removal team, local air traffic controllers and the airlines operating at the airport. Delta Air Lines brought its history of scheduled service on Boeing 747s to a close in December, with a farewell flight from Atlanta to MSP. That month, hometown carrier Sun Country Airlines was sold to New York investment firm Apollo Global Management. The sale came as Sun Country was beginning to transform its business model to one more aligned with ultra-low-cost carriers. The new owner has indicated Sun Country’s headquarters will remain in Minnesota. To ensure air service at MSP continues to meet area business demand, the MAC partnered with Greater MSP to create the MSP Regional Air Services Partnership. Greater MSP is a cooperative business venture designed to grow the local economy by creating a regional approach to economic development. The MSP Regional Air Services Partnership recognizes that competitive air service is a top priority for businesses in determining where to locate facilities and employees. To find and attract new air service, it is important to have a robust fact base and complete understanding of market conditions. Toward that end, Greater MSP will research current and future air service needs in cooperation with its members, airlines and the MAC. New service, larger planes and higher demand pushed passenger levels to a record high in 2017, with 38,034,341 total travelers flying to or from MSP – 1.4 percent more than in 2016. 18 19