Breeze Airways just announced 12 new nonstop routes from airports that legacy carriers forgot existed. As someone who’s watched airlines abandon smaller cities for decades, I find what David Neeleman is doing genuinely interesting—connecting places that deserve better than one-stop slogs through overcrowded hubs.
New Routes
The expansion includes Richmond to Las Vegas and San Francisco; Providence to Phoenix and Denver; and Huntsville to several Florida destinations. Most routes run 2-4 times weekly using Airbus A220s. Service starts this spring.
Neeleman says these routes fill gaps left by legacy carriers obsessed with hub operations. “These cities deserve better air service than one-stop connections through congested hubs,” he stated at the announcement. He’s not wrong.
Pricing Strategy
Introductory fares start at $49 one-way for basic economy, though expect average prices around $150-200 for most routes. Breeze’s unbundled model charges separately for seats, bags, and everything else—you know the drill by now.
The airline competes on convenience rather than rock-bottom pricing, offering direct flights that save travelers hours compared to connecting itineraries. Business travelers particularly value that time savings despite potentially higher point-to-point fares.
Growth Trajectory
Founded in 2021, Breeze now serves over 50 cities with 40 aircraft. The carrier has stayed profitable by avoiding head-to-head battles with larger airlines, focusing instead on routes without existing nonstop service.
More route announcements are coming as Breeze takes delivery of additional A220s. They’ve ordered 80 more aircraft through 2028, suggesting aggressive expansion in underserved markets. Whether that ambition holds up remains to be seen, but so far Neeleman’s track record speaks for itself.
