Breeze Airways, the new “Seriously Nice” US carrier from JetBlue founder David Neeleman, today unveiled their debut network, comprising 39 nonstop routes between 16 cities in the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Eastern US. Breeze will mostly be focusing on flights from four main airports: Tampa, FL, Charleston, SC, New Orleans, LA and Norfolk, VA.
The first flights will be operated between Charleston, SC, Tampa, FL and Hartford, CT, starting May 27th, with remaining destinations to be added each week through July 22nd 2021. Flights are now on sale starting at $39 one way.
Breeze will be the second US airline to launch this year, joining Avelo Airlines, which debuted in late April.
“Together, we created Breeze as a new airline merging technology with kindness. Breeze provides nonstop service between underserved routes across the U. at affordable fares. A staggering 95 percent of Breeze routes currently have no airline serving them nonstop.”
David Neeleman, CEO of Breeze Airways
The Fleet
Breeze will operate 13 single-class Embraer aircraft this summer, flying routes with an average flight length of under two hours. The ten E190 jets will be configured to seat 108 Guests, while the three E195 aircraft will have 118 seats. Travellers may choose from fares that include ‘Nice’ seats or ‘Nicer’ seats with extra legroom. All their Embraer aircraft will be in a two-by-two seat configuration, so there are no middle seats.
Breeze are scheduled to start taking delivery of 60 brand new Airbus A220 aircraft beginning in October of this year, with a delivery rate of about one per month for five years. The A220 routes, which will be announced this Fall, will be longer than two hours’ flight time. The A220s will include a premium cabin, called ‘Nicest’ seating, in a two-by-two configuration at the front of the plane. The remainder of the aircraft will be made up of a two-by-three seat configuration.
The Route Network
From Tampa Bay Breeze will inaugurate service on 10 routes, most of which are currently not being served:
- Charleston, SC (starting May 27th)
- Louisville, KY (May 28th)
- Tulsa, OK; (June 4th)
- Norfolk, VA (June 10th)
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR (June 17th)
- Akron/Canton, OH (June 26th)
- Oklahoma City, OK (July 1st)
- Columbus, OH (July 3rd)
- Huntsville, AL (July 22nd)
- Richmond, VA (July 22nd)
From Charleston Breeze will inaugurate service to 11 markets, most of which are currently not being served:
- Hartford, CT (starting May 27th)
- Tampa, FL (May 27th)
- Louisville, KY (May 28th)
- Norfolk, VA; (June 10th)
- Akron/Canton, OH (July 8th)
- Columbus, OH (July 8th)
- New Orleans, LA (July 8th)
- Pittsburgh, PA (July 8th)
- Richmond, VA (July 8th)
- Huntsville, AL (July 15th)
- Providence, RI (July 22nd)
From Norfolk Breeze will inaugurate service on 7 routes, 6 of which are currently not being served:
- Charleston, SC (starting June 10th)
- Tampa, FL (June 10th)
- New Orleans, LA (July 15th)
- Columbus, OH (July 22nd)
- Hartford, CT (July 22nd)
- Pittsburgh, PA (July 22nd)
- Providence, RI. (July 29th)
From New Orleans Breeze will inaugurate service to 10 markets, most of which are currently not being served:
- Charleston, SC (starting July 8th)
- Akron/Canton, OH (July 15th)
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR (July 15th)
- Huntsville, AL (July 15th)
- Louisville, KY (July 15th)
- Norfolk, VA (July 15th)
- Oklahoma, OK (July 15th)
- Richmond, VA (July 15th)
- Tulsa, OK (July 15th)
- Columbus, OH (July 16th)
Beyond these four main cities, Breeze also will operate the following: five routes from Columbus, OH, four routes from Hartford, CT, and Pittsburgh, PA and three routes from Akron/Canton, OH, Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR, Huntsville, AL, Louisville, KY, Oklahoma City, OK, Providence, RI; Richmond, VA, San Antonio, TX, and Tulsa, OK, including between:
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR, and San Antonio, TX (July 15th)
- San Antonio, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK (July 15th)
- Tulsa, OK, and San Antonio, TX (July 15th)
- Hartford, CT, and Columbus, OH (July 22nd)
- Pittsburgh, PA, and Hartford, CT (July 22nd)
- Providence, RI, and Pittsburgh, PA (July 29th)
“These 16 cities are just the beginning for Breeze” said Mr. Neeleman. “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s air service has meant many secondary markets and smaller cities have seen a significant reduction in flights. There are so many city pairs needing nonstop service around the country, we have a further 100 cities under consideration. Flying nonstop, Breeze will get you there in half the time, but also for about half the price!”.
A la Carte Pricing and Fare Options - Customizable Flight Options
During booking, Guests may choose from ‘Nice’ or ‘Nicer’ fares -with the ‘Nicest’ fare being introduced in the Fall along with Business Class seating on the Airbus A220.
The Nice Fare is the airline’s most affordable fare, starting at only $39 one-way, and includes a personal item, such as a backpack or purse. Guests can select a seat assignment and add bags to their reservation for an additional cost. If no seat is selected then one will be assigned at no cost during check-in. The Nice seat pitch is 29" on the E-190 aircraft and 31" on the E-195s. A Nice Fare can be paired with a Nicer Seat for an additional cost. All Nice Fares receive two percent in BreezePoints.
The Nicer Fare includes an extra legroom seat assignment, a personal item, carry-on bag (overhead bin), one checked bag, a complimentary drink with snack and priority boarding. The Nicer seat pitch is between 33" and 39" on the E-190s, depending on the row selected, and between 34" and 39" on the E-195s. All Nicer Fares receive four percent in BreezePoints.
Prices to check or carry-on bags are a flat rate of $20 each, one way, for up to three bags. This flat rate, which is one of the lowest in the US, is the same whether a bag is checked or taken onboard.
Seat assignments start from $10, but Family Seating is free for families traveling with children 12 and under. The charge to travel with a pet in the cabin is $75.
Onboard Service
While the upcoming Airbus A220 fleet will feature both inflight entertainment and WiFi connectivity onboard, the Embraer fleet will not offer connectivity given the much shorter flights. This summer, the Embraer fleet will feature free inflight entertainment, powered by Global Eagle, streaming to personal electronic devices. Breeze's IFE will include TV, games and a real-time map.
Global Eagle’s Iris digital platform and Airconnect IFE Pro enables Breeze Guests to choose from more than 150 comedy, drama and kids' shows; from Modern Family to Blindspot, to Friends to Phineas and Ferb. Frequent travellers will enjoy fresh entertainment options quarterly, as part of the airline's commitment to customizing and constantly increasing content for their passengers.
Snacks on board will include selections from Utz and KIND® bars.
Breeze will be the second US airline to launch this year, joining Avelo Airlines, which debuted in late April.