A new airline is launching non-stop service from San Antonio to three locations; Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Breeze spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones says they expect demand to be high.
"People are sick of staying at home, and they probably have some pocket money because they have not been going out as much and travelling," he tells WOAI's Michael Board
Breeze Airways, the new U.S. carrier from JetBlue founder David Neeleman, unveiled its debut network, comprising 39 nonstop routes between 16 cities in the Southwest, Midwest, Southeast and Eastern US. The first flights will operate between Charleston, South Carolina,Tampa, Florida and Hartford, Connecticut starting May 27, with remaining destinations to be added each week through July 22.
The San Antonio flights will begin on July 15. Flights are now on sale at flybreeze.com starting at $39 one way.
Breeze will operate 13 single-class Embraer aircraft this summer, flying routes with an average flight length under two hours. The ten E-190 jets will be configured to seat 108 Guests while the three E195 aircraft will have 118 seats. Guests may choose from fares that include 'Nice' seats, or 'Nicer' seats with extra legroom. All Embraer aircraft will be a two-by-two seat configuration, so there are no middle seats.
Breeze will start taking delivery of 60 brand new Airbus A220 aircraft, beginning in October of this year and delivering at about one per month for five years. The A220 routes, which will be announced this Fall, all will be longer than two hours' flight time. The A220s will include a premium cabin, called 'Nicest' seating, in a two-by-two configuration at the front of the plane. The remainder of the aircraft will feature a two-by-three seat configuration.
In addition to the San Antonio routes, the airline announced the following routes:
From Tampa Bay, Breeze will inaugurate service on 10 routes, most of which are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC(starting May 27);
- Louisville, KY(May 28);
- Tulsa, OK(June 4);
- Norfolk, VA(June 10);
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR(June 17);
- Akron/Canton, OH(June 26);
- Oklahoma City, OK(July 1);
- Columbus, OH(July 3);
- Huntsville, AL(July 22); and
- Richmond, VA(July 22).
From Charleston, Breeze will inaugurate service to 11 markets, most of which are currently not served:
- Hartford, CT(starting May 27);
- Tampa, FL(May 27);
- Louisville, KY(May 28);
- Norfolk, VA(June 10);
- Akron/Canton, OH(July 8);
- Columbus, OH(July 8);
- New Orleans, LA(July 8);
- Pittsburgh, PA(July 8);
- Richmond, VA(July 8);
- Huntsville, AL(July 15); and
- Providence, RI(July 22).
From Norfolk, Breeze will inaugurate service on 7 routes, 6 are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC(starting June 10);
- Tampa, FL(June 10);
- New Orleans, LA(July 15);
- Columbus, OH(July 22);
- Hartford, CT(July 22);
- Pittsburgh, PA(July 22); and
- Providence, RI(July 29).
From New Orleans, Breeze will inaugurate service to 10 markets, most of which are currently not served:
- Charleston, SC(starting July 8);
- Akron/Canton, OH(July 15);
- Bentonville/Fayetteville, AR(July 15);
- Huntsville, AL(July 15);
- Louisville, KY(July 15);
- Norfolk, VA(July 15);
- Oklahoma, OK (July 15);
- Richmond, VA(July 15);
- Tulsa, OK(July 15); and
- Columbus, OH(July 16).
"These 16 cities are just the beginning for Breeze," said Neeleman. "The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation's air service has meant many secondary markets and smaller cities have seen a significant reduction in flights. There are so many city pairs needing nonstop service around the country, we have a further 100 cities under consideration. Flying nonstop, Breeze will get you there in half the time, but also for about half the price!"