Breeze Airways CEO: We Fly Where People Don’t Fly

Breeze Airways managed to successfully launch operations around seven months ago, despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has shaped its network around underserved or brand-new routes, flying where other airlines don’t. Simple Flying had the opportunity to speak exclusively with founder and CEO David Neeleman at the Future Flying Forum.

David Neeleman shed some light on what drives Breeze Airways’ network strategy. Photo: Breeze Airways

We fly where others don’t

Launching in May of this year, Breeze Airways hasn’t let the COVID-19 pandemic dampen its spirits. The airline now serves 42 routes across the US after recently announcing eight new routes coming in February next year.

Breeze has built its network around small-to-medium-sized cities, serving routes with little to no competition. Prior to launching, CEO David Neeleman stated that 80% of Breeze’s summer ASM’s (available seat miles) have no nonstop competition. Of its eight new routes announced earlier this month, seven have never been flown before and all are presently unserved.

Breeze Airways takes pride in flying where others don’t. Photo: Breeze Airways

Speaking at Simple Flying’s Future Flying Forum, Neeleman said,

“[We are] flying where people don’t. We just want to fly where everybody doesn’t and be a domestic or international, seasonal, peak days a week airline. We want to be where people aren’t. And we feel like we have the equipment to do that.“

Identifying routes

With Breeze’s network strategy focusing on underserved or brand-new routes, Neeleman offered an insight into how the carrier chooses where to fly.

Neeleman said,

“Tonnes of number crunching, tonnes of analysis. We literally have 400 routes that we’re looking at at any one time. We just kind of look at the competition and who’s flying in those routes.”

Breeze aims to attract passengers by combining the convenience of nonstop flights at an affordable price.

A convenient and affordable service will always attract passengers. Photo: Breeze Airways

Neeleman added,

“If there’s even as little as 10 people a day, we think we can do 10 times that number up to 100 a day, just by offering convenient service and really low fares. If it’s a desirable place to go where people really want to go.”

A220s will open up possibilities

Breeze’s fleet consists of 13 Embraer E-jets – 10 ERJ-190s and three ERJ-195s – and one A220-300 so far. The airline has a large order for 80 Airbus A220-300s and expects its new jets to arrive at a rate of one per month. The first A220 arrived earlier this month, although it won’t take to the skies until Q2 2022 at the earliest.

Breeze welcomed its first A220-300 on December 15th. Photo: Airbus

As its new A220s arrive, Breeze will be able to operate on longer flight segments. Neeleman revealed that its A220s are likely to serve flights “of three-to-four hours.”

The airline’s A220s will come with a large premium cabin of 36 seats, along with 10 extra-legroom economy and 80 economy seats. Crucially, Breeze will have the power to reconfigure its cabins within just a matter of days depending on demand.

Have you flown with Breeze Airways yet? How excited are you to fly on one of their new Airbus A220-300s? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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