Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. The airline was founded by David Neeleman, who previously co-founded Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue, and Azul Linhas Aereas. Breeze's operations launched on May 27, 2021, with its inaugural flight from Tampa International Airport to Charleston International Airport.

Breeze Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
MX MXY MOXY[1]
FoundedJuly 31, 2018 (2018-07-31)[2]
(as Moxy Airways)
Commenced operationsMay 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)
(as Breeze Airways)
AOC #BAGA439Q[3]
Operating bases
Frequent-flyer programBreezePoints
Fleet size34
Destinations35
Parent companyBreeze Aviation Group, Inc.
HeadquartersCottonwood Heights, Utah, United States[2]
Key people
Websitewww.flybreeze.com

History

In June 2018, Neeleman planned for the establishment of a new American airline under the tentative name "Moxy Airways,"[4] with capital from former Air Canada CEO Robert Milton, former ILFC CEO Henri Courpron, former JetBlue board chairman Michael Lazarus, and himself.[5] They perceived that due to consolidation, all 11 major carriers in the country were profitable and had existed 20 years ago (except JetBlue, which Neeleman had co-founded in 2000) and that there was space for a new airline competitor.[5] They also determined that the country's four largest airlines carried 80% of domestic US seats in 2017,[6][7] and that due to the loss of service to smaller markets, US domestic air capacity had remained stagnant from 2007 to 2017 while the economy had expanded by 34%.[8]

To fill this perceived gap, the airline planned to offer point-to-point flights from smaller, secondary airports such as Norfolk International Airport, Westchester County Airport, or Providence's then-named T. F. Green Airport, bypassing larger airline hubs for shorter travel times.[8] The airline was also reportedly considering longer distance flights to South America and Europe.[9] It would offer spacious seats and free Wi-Fi, like Azul and JetBlue, but charge fees for snacks and advance seat assignments, like ultra low-cost carriers Allegiant Air or Spirit Airlines.[8] For the launch of operations, 60 Bombardier CS300s (later known as the Airbus A220-300) were ordered, soliciting Chinese lessors to finance 18 to be delivered from 2021 onward.[8] However, in order to accelerate the airline's launch, it initially planned to utilize secondhand Embraer 195 aircraft from Azul in order to launch as soon as 2020.[7]

On February 7, 2020, it was announced that the airline had officially been named Breeze Airways,[10][11] as the previous "Moxy" name clashed with Marriott's "Moxy Hotels" trademark.[12] The airline's branding, such as its logo, colors and aircraft livery, was developed by the Brazilian airline marketing specialist Gianfranco "Panda" Beting, Azul's co-founder, who was also responsible for creating the branding of Azul, TAP Air Portugal and Transbrasil.[13][14] Additionally, Neeleman expressed the view that the airline would be known as the "World's Nicest Airline".[15] On February 20, 2020, the airline established its headquarters in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.[16]

Breeze had originally planned to begin operations sometime in 2020 through the acquisition of Compass Airlines, though the launch was later pushed back to 2021, with the acquisition being cancelled.[17][18] Additionally, the airline planned to introduce Embraer 190 and 195 aircraft to launch short-haul, regional services prior to the induction of the Airbus A220-300 for longer flights.[19] On March 10, 2021, the airline received federal approval from the United States Department of Transportation to begin operations,[20] and was later issued its air operator's certificate on May 14, 2021.[21] The following week, Breeze began selling tickets on May 21, 2021, with flights planned to start on May 27, 2021.[22] In the initial years following launch, the airline's network expanded consisting of several domestic short-haul and transcontinental routes within the United States,[23][24] as well as charter operations.[25]

Destinations
Main article: List of Breeze Airways destinations

Breeze operates a network consisting of domestic routes within the United States.

Fleet
Breeze Airways Airbus A220-300
Breeze Airways Embraer 190

As of October 2023, Breeze Airways operates the following aircraft:[26][27]

Breeze Airways fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
F Y+ Y Total Ref
Airbus A220-300 17 63[28] 36 10 80 126 [29]
12 45 80 137 [30]
Embraer 190 10 — — 48 60 108 [31] Former Air Canada aircraft.
Embraer 195 7 — — 22 96 118 [32] Former Azul and Air Europa Express aircraft.[19]
— 24 100 124 [33]
Total 34 63

Fleet development

On July 17, 2018, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 60 A220-300 aircraft to be delivered from 2021,[34] with the order firmed in January 2019.[35] The order included options for 60 additional A220s. Following the airline's revised plans to launch operations before the delivery of its A220 aircraft, Breeze agreed to sublease up to 30 Embraer 195s from Azul in order to serve short-haul routes, although the total number received was dependent on LOT Polish Airlines exercising its lease options.[11] The airline additionally agreed to lease up to fifteen Embraer 190s from Nordic Aviation Capital.[36] The airline received its first Embraer 195 on December 30, 2020,[37] and later its first Embraer 190 in February 2021.[36][38]

On April 26, 2021, it was announced that Breeze had ordered an additional 20 A220-300 aircraft, bringing its total orders up to 80 aircraft of the type,[39] although Airbus listed the order under an undisclosed customer. Breeze itself did not announce the order until September 13, 2021, when it was also announced that the order was the result of exercising purchase options.[40] The airline's first Airbus A220-300 was delivered on October 26, 2021,[41] with the aircraft entering service on May 25, 2022.[42]

Cabin and service

Services

Breeze had proposed intentions to offer both a low-cost and a first-class product, in contrast to the traditional all-economy business model of most low-cost carriers (LCCs). Proposals included some common LCC features such as a point-to-point route network, extra fees for additional services, and initially a single aircraft type, but the airline did not intend to operate only a single cabin class of service.[9] Additionally, its aircraft would not feature seatback screens for its in-flight entertainment, instead opting to offer streaming of entertainment through personal electronic devices.[9]

In August 2021, Breeze announced plans for a no-frills "Nice" ticket, and a "Nicer" ticket type offering food, extra legroom and other amenity upgrades. The carrier also announced that all ticket types were eligible for itinerary changes without additional fees.[43] Breeze announced a "Nicest" ticket type with the delivery of its Airbus A220-300 in October 2021, which would feature a first class seat and services, and launch with the aircraft's entry into service during 2022.[41] In March 2022, the airline announced that it planned to offer inflight Viasat Wi-Fi internet access from October 2022,[44] however this was delayed to 2023.[45]

Seating

Breeze's first class seats are only available on its Airbus A220 aircraft, and are configured in a 2–2 layout. The airline's Extra Legroom and Standard seats are its economy class product, the seats of which are configured in a 2–3 layout on the A220, and a 2–2 layout on the Embraer 190 and 195 aircraft.

In 2022, the airline announced an alternative seating configuration for its A220s depending on route or seasonal demand, with fewer First Class seats and additional Extra Legroom seats,[30] but starting from 2023 chose to configure all of its A220s with the alternative seating configuration.[46] Additionally, the airline rebranded its first class seating as "Breeze Ascent" in May 2023.[46]

Frequent-flyer program

BreezePoints are both the airline's frequent-flyer program as well as its travel credit system. The program is a revenue-based accrual system where passengers earn points based on the cash amount spent on travel, including base fare amounts and ancillary fees such as seat selection or baggage allowances.[47] The amount of points earned can also vary based on the ticket type purchased.[47] Points can be redeemed towards payments made with the airline, and expire two years after originally issued.[48]

References
  1. "JO 7340.565" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  2. "Breeze Aviation Group, Inc". OpenCorporates. February 21, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  3. "Airline Certificate Information – Detail View". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  4. Curley, Robert (June 22, 2018). "Jetblue founder plans "Moxy Airways"". Business Traveller. Panacea Media Limited. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  5. "He's Baaaack: Stop what you're doing. JetBlue founder David Neeleman wants to launch a new U.S. airline". Airline Weekly. June 17, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. Hemmerdinger, Jon (June 18, 2018). "Neeleman's reported US start-up could shake up US industry". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. Curley, Robert (September 17, 2019). "'Moxy' airline to launch with used Azul aircraft". Business Traveller. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  8. Bachman, Justin (June 18, 2018). "JetBlue Founder Raising Funds for New U.S. Airline, Report Says". Bloomberg News. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. "All of the Details We Have on David Neeleman's New Domestic Airline". Conde Nast Traveler. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  10. Slotnick, David (February 7, 2020). "The founder of JetBlue just launched a new US airline, aimed at routes that others have left behind". Business Insider. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  11. "Neeleman's Breeze Airways officially announces 2020 launch". ch-aviation. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  12. Yeo, Ghim-Lay (July 17, 2018). "Neeleman's start-up to partner Azul and TAP". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  13. Rydlewski, Carlos (October 5, 2018). "Panda Beting: "A receita de sucesso da vida é trabalhar com o que se ama"" [Life's recipe for success is to work with what you love]. Pequenas Empresas & Grandes Negócios (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  14. Machado, João (February 7, 2020). "David Neeleman's Newest U.S. Airline Expects to Take Flight This Year". Airline Geeks. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  15. Muther, Christopher (February 12, 2020). "A new, potentially industry-altering airline from the man who brought you JetBlue". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  16. Davidson, Lee (February 20, 2020). "New Breeze Airways opens national headquarters in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  17. Meier, Ricardo (August 19, 2020). "Breeze Airways again changes its debut plans". Air Data News. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  18. "Utah's Breeze Airways delays launch to 2021". ch-aviation. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  19. "Breeze Airways to use E190/5s for short-haul, A220s for long". ch-aviation. April 23, 2021.
  20. Singh, Jay (March 10, 2021). "Breeze Airways Receives Federal Approval". Simple Flying. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  21. "US's Breeze Airways secures AOC, preps for launch". ch-aviation. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  22. Gilbertson, Dawn (May 21, 2021). "New airline Breeze Airways takes off May 27 with $39 fares, no middle seats and nonstop flights to smaller cities". USA Today. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  23. Gilbertson, Dawn (March 8, 2022). "Breeze Airways wants a piece of your summer vacation budget with these 35 new routes across US". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  24. McCarthy, Daniel (February 14, 2023). "Low-Cost Carrier Breeze Airways Adds 22 New Nonstops". Travel Market Report. American Marketing Group Inc. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  25. Snyder, Brett (November 10, 2022). "David Neeleman Talks Breeze Pilot Problems, Flying to Orange County, and More (Across the Aisle)". Cranky Flier. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  26. "Breeze Airways Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  27. "Meet Our Fleet". Breeze Airways. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  28. Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), monthly updated, accessed via "Orders & deliveries". Airbus. Airbus SAS. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  29. "Our Aircraft – A220 (126)". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  30. "Our Aircraft – A220 (137)". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  31. "Our Aircraft – E190". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  32. "Our Aircraft – E195 (118)". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  33. "Our Aircraft – E195 (124)". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  34. "Future U.S. airline signs commitment for 60 A220-300 aircraft". Airbus (Press release). July 17, 2018.
  35. "Breeze Airways Airline Profile". CAPA – Centre for Aviation. Informa Markets. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  36. "NAC delivers first of fifteen Embraer E190 to Breeze Airways on lease". Nordic Aviation Capital (Press release). February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  37. Ahlgren, Linnea (January 5, 2021). "Breeze Takes Delivery Of Its First Embraer E190". Simple Flying.
  38. Hohnholz, Linda (February 2, 2021). "Breeze Airways takes delivery of Embraer E190 aircraft". eTurboNews. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  39. Ongaro, Andrea (April 26, 2021). "Breeze Airways to boost Airbus A220 order". Airways Magazine. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  40. Shepardson, David (September 13, 2021). "U.S. carrier Breeze confirms buying 20 more Airbus A220 jets". Reuters. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  41. "Breeze Airways™ Unveils First Airbus A220-300 Aircraft; Best U.S. Financed Airline Start-Up in History has 80 Aircraft on Order Making it the Largest A220-300 Customer in the World". Breeze Airways (Press release). Business Wire. October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  42. Rains, Taylor (March 8, 2022). "Upstart airline Breeze will fly coast-to-coast using its brand-new Airbus A220 jets in a 35-route expansion— see the full list of new destinations". Business Insider. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  43. "Breeze Airways are Playing it Nice in the Aviation Game". Travel Radar. August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  44. Kirby, Mary (March 8, 2022). "Breeze Airways vows superior connectivity on A220s as it taps Viasat". Runway Girl Network. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  45. Miller, Seth (February 23, 2023). "First Breeze plane with Viasat inflight Wi-Fi now flying". Paxex.aero. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  46. Miller, Seth (May 23, 2023). "Breeze unveils "Ascent," a new take on premium seating". Paxex.aero. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  47. Kirby, Mary (May 21, 2021). "Breeze Airways seeks to play 'nice' as tickets go on sale". Runway Girl Network. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  48. "BreezePoints". Breeze Airways. Retrieved May 29, 2022.

Further reading

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