JetBlue Founder Hopes New Airline is a Breeze

Image: PHOTO: Salt Lake City will be the home base for new airline Breeze. (Photo via fotoVoyager / Getty Images / E+)
Image: PHOTO: Salt Lake City will be the home base for new airline Breeze. (Photo via fotoVoyager / Getty Images / E+)
Rich Thomaselli
by Rich Thomaselli
Last updated: 10:25 AM ET, Mon February 10, 2020

If all goes well, America's newest budget airline will be a breeze.

Or, actually, it will be Breeze.

David Neeleman, who knows a thing or two about starting a successful airline, is set to introduce Breeze Airways as early as this year.

The new venture will serve mid-size U.S. airports and cities that don't normally operate many direct flights.

"20 years ago, we brought humanity back to the airline industry with JetBlue," Neeleman said in a statement. "Today, we're excited to introduce plans for 'the World's Nicest Airline'."

Neeleman has known nothing but success when it comes to starting airlines. He founded JetBlue, Canada's WestJet, Brazil's Azul, and another Utah-based carrier Morris Air (now operated by Southwest).

Breeze, which was originally called "Moxy" during its development stage, will be based in Salt Lake City and has already submitted its application for operations with the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation.

Routes have not been announced yet but Neeleman is convinced his strategy of using airports "that bigger airlines overlook" is the way to go.

"I would be very surprised if a single [Breeze] route had non-stop service competition. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of city pairs that are crying out for non-stop flights," Neeleman said.


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Rich Thomaselli

Rich Thomaselli

Associate Writer

Editor Associate Writer true 9281 14744 Rich Thomaselli has written for TravelPulse since 2014 and has been a professional journalist for nearly 40 years. His work has appeared in USA Today, the New York Times and New York Yankees publications. He is an 11-time writ

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