U.S. startup Breeze Airways to launch first international flights
Breeze Airways, the U.S. startup airline founded by JetBlue’s David Neeleman, is preparing to spread its wings beyond domestic skies. The carrier announced Thursday that it will begin international service early next year, marking a major milestone as it enters its fifth year of operations.
Sun Destinations First
The expansion begins January 10, 2025, with seasonal Saturday-only flights from Norfolk, Virginia, to Cancun, Mexico. A week later, Charleston, South Carolina, to Cancun joins the schedule, also operating on Saturdays.
Additional routes will roll out through winter and spring:
- New Orleans–Cancun (Saturdays starting Feb. 7)
- Providence, Rhode Island–Cancun (Saturdays starting Feb. 14)
- Tampa, Florida–Montego Bay, Jamaica (Feb. 11)
- Raleigh-Durham–Montego Bay (Thursdays and Saturdays starting March)
- Raleigh-Durham–Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Wednesdays and Saturdays starting March)
FAA Approval and Market Strategy
Breeze spent years working with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure certification for international operations, said Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson. The airline is the first sizable U.S. passenger carrier to win that clearance since Virgin America, which was later acquired by Alaska Airlines in 2016.
Breeze’s international expansion sticks to the company’s core playbook: flying its Airbus A220-300s between city pairs with little or no direct competition.
“These new routes are an exciting starting point for us,” Johnson said. “We feel really confident that it’s going to be a guest response.”
Fares and Premium Demand
Introductory fares start at $99 one way, but Breeze is also seeing strong demand for its pricier premium-class seating. Johnson noted that a “double-digit percentage” of customers who fly Breeze once return to book a more spacious, higher-end seat on their second trip.
From Pandemic Launch to International Growth
Launched in May 2021 during the pandemic, Breeze positioned itself as a low-cost alternative serving underserved U.S. markets. Its upcoming step into international destinations signals both confidence in its model and ambitions for broader growth.
As it prepares for its first flights abroad, Breeze is betting that sun-seeking travelers from secondary U.S. cities will embrace its promise of affordable, direct service to Caribbean and Mexican hotspots.
