New Airline Seeks to Specialize in Tier 2 Cities

The new airline to be launched later this year by JetBlue founder David Neeleman will be called Breeze

Airways – possibly known better as Moxy as it is was called when plans for its creation were revealed in

2018.

The airline is currently applying for its operating certificate with the FAA and the Department of

Transportation. The strategy may be one that upends the airline industry as initial routes will connect mid-sized city pairs that have lost service due to industry consolidation.

Neeleman has said he will be able to use technological innovations that will improve the product while saving travelers time and money. Breeze Airways is the fifth airline start-up for David Neeleman, who also founded Utah-based Morris Air (which later folded into Southwest Airlines), Canada’s WestJet and Brazil’s Azul. Breeze has 60 Airbus E195 aircraft on order and has leased 30 Embraer E195 aircraft from Azul.

“Breeze will fly nonstop service between places currently without meaningful or affordable service,” he said in a release. “Twenty years ago, we brought humanity back to the airline industry with JetBlue. Today, we’re excited to introduce plans for ‘the World’s Nicest Airline.’”

The airline will be headquartered in Salt Lake City and will launch with routes east of the Mississippi, up and down the eastern corridor. Focus will not reside in creating hub and spoke route systems.

Breeze officials noted in a recent announcement that “Over the last decade, the major US airlines have consolidated and concentrated their efforts at fortress hubs resulting in diminished air travel options for entire segments of the country, with many routes now only served by connecting flights.”

The company has on order some 60 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft that will begin deliveries in April 2021. Until that time the company has leased 30 Embraer 195 aircraft from Azul, expected to be delivered starting in May 2020.