=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SF Gate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2002/05/29/f= inancial2047EDT0352.DTL ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, May 29, 2002 (AP) After restructuring, Banmiller steps down as airline's chief (05-29) 17:47 PDT MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- David Banmiller, who has led Sun Country Airlines through an abrupt shutdown, bankruptcy restructuring and change of owner in recent months, said Wednesday he'll leave his post at week's end. Sun Country hired Banmiller as its chief executive officer in April 2001 to revive its sagging fortunes. But when air travel halted after Sept. 11, the company's losses mounted. Sun Country halted scheduled flights and laid off nearly 1,000 people in December. Its former owner began seeking a buyer several weeks before that. But creditors didn't wait and pushed the company into bankruptcy restructuring. Through it all, Banmiller preserved the airline's most valuable asset, i= ts government-issued flight certificate, which is maintained by keeping flights in operation. He struck a deal with casino operators in Laughlin, Nev., for charter flights from the Twin Cities while the financial restructuring and sale of the airline continued. In March, the airline restarted scheduled service, linking the Twin Citi= es with a dozen cities and Laughlin with six cities. A group led by retired Burnsville attorney Robert Daly bought Sun Country's main assets in the restructuring. Daly, now the airline's chairman, and Jay Salmen, its new president, will look for a new CEO. Banmiller said he'll remain a consultant to the airline. He has spent mo= re than 35 years in the industry, serving as CEO of Pan Am, president of AirCal and a vice president at American Airline. But Banmiller said Sun Country's restructuring has "probably been the hardest six months of my career." =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2002 AP