US’s Breeze Airways details launch network
Breeze Airways (MXY, Salt Lake City) has outlined its initial route network ahead of its now fixed May 27 debut. As recently reported, the start-up completed its certification with the US Department of Transportation (DOT). In a statement, Breeze Airways said it would focus on serving four main base airports namely Tampa Int’l, FL; Charleston, SC; New Orleans Int’l, LA; and Norfolk Int’l, VA using its fleet of E190/E195s. From Tampa Bay, it will inaugurate service on 10 routes, most of which are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC (starting May 27);
- Louisville Int’l, KY (May 28);
- Tulsa Int’l, OK; (June 4);
- Norfolk Int’l, VA (June 10);
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR (June 17);
- Akron/Canton, OH (June 26);
- Oklahoma City Will Rogers World, OK (July 1);
- Columbus John Glenn, OH (July 3);
- Huntsville, AL (July 22); and
- Richmond Int’l, VA (July 22).
From Charleston, Breeze will inaugurate service to 11 markets, most of which are currently not served:
- Hartford, CT (starting May 27);
- Tampa, FL (May 27);
- Louisville, KY (May 28);
- Norfolk, VA; (June 10);
- Akron/Canton, OH (July 8);
- Columbus, OH (July 8);
- New Orleans, LA (July 8);
- Pittsburgh Int’l, PA (July 8);
- Richmond, VA (July 8);
- Huntsville, AL (July 15); and
- Providence, RI (July 22).
From Norfolk, Breeze will inaugurate service on seven routes, six of which are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC (starting June 10);
- Tampa, FL (June 10);
- New Orleans, LA (July 15);
- Columbus, OH (July 22);
- Hartford, CT (July 22);
- Pittsburgh, PA (July 22); and
- Providence, RI. (July 29).
From New Orleans, Breeze will inaugurate service to 10 markets, most of which are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC (starting July 8);
- Akron/Canton, OH (July 15);
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR (July 15);
- Huntsville, AL (July 15);
- Louisville, KY (July 15);
- Norfolk, VA (July 15);
- Oklahoma, OK (July 15);
- Richmond, VA (July 15);
- Tulsa, OK (July 15); and
- Columbus, OH (July 16).
Beyond these four main cities, Breeze also will operate 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 Int’l, TX, and Tulsa, OK, including between:
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR, and San Antonio, TX (July 15);
- San Antonio, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK (July 15);
- Tulsa, OK, and San Antonio, TX (July 15);
- Hartford, CT, and Columbus, OH (July 22);
- Pittsburgh, PA, and Hartford, CT (July 22); and
- Providence, RI, and Pittsburgh, PA (July 29).
Breeze will operate thirteen Embraer regional jets this summer, flying routes with an average flight length of under two hours. Its ten E190s will feature 108 seats while its three E195s will have 118 seats. Breeze will start taking delivery of its sixty A220-300s in October of this year with about one per month to arrive over the next five years. The A220 routes, which will be announced this autumn, will be longer than two hours’ flying 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 feature a two-by-three seat configuration. Breeze will also invest USD5.2 million to establish an operations centre in Norfolk which will create 116 jobs. According to an announcement by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, the City of Norfolk has been granted USD400,000 from the state’s Opportunity Fund to assist with the project. The airline is also eligible for benefits from Virginia’s Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit for new full-time jobs created.