Breeze Airways (MX, Salt Lake City) has applied to the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for a flag carrier status, which would be the first step towards eventually launching international operations, founder and chief executive David Neeleman told Reuters. The airline plans to launch transatlantic services.
The flag carrier designation is necessary for any carrier to secure international traffic rights. Neeleman did not outline any timeline for the process and the spokesperson told ch-aviation it was too early to discuss this. It has been planning its international debut for some time now but has yet to announce any specific routes.
The carrier tentatively targets both the leisure markets in the Caribbean and Central America, and transatlantic services to destinations like Ireland, which are within the range of its A220-300s.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that the airline operates ten E190s, seven E195s, and eighteen A220-300s (with 62 more on a firm order from the manufacturer). It focuses on underserved secondary markets in the US and currently has bases at Charleston International, Hartford Bradley, New Orleans International, Norfolk International, VA, Providence, Provo, Tampa International, and White Plains.
