Breeze Airways turns profitable in March, will establish a new base at Fort Myers with new routes

Breeze Airways reported an operating profit for March, a major milestone for the fast-growing startup airline.

In the first quarter of 2024, the premium leisure, point-to-point carrier increased unit revenues by more than 30% year-over-year while generating more scheduled service revenue in March 2024 than in the entirety of the first quarter of 2023. 

Earlier this year, Breeze announced plans to transition all scheduled service to its growing fleet of brand new A220-300 aircraft by the fall and introduced its new co-branded credit card and loyalty program, setting the stage for continued cost-efficiencies and revenue growth.

Additionally, in the first quarter of 2024, Breeze flew its five millionth Guest while achieving a controllable flight completion factor of 99.8%, a controllable on-time performance of 74.5%, and one of the lowest mishandled bags rates in the industry at 0.27 bags per 100 bags loaded. 

Breeze’s business model, which combines low fares, nonstop flights, and an elevated onboard experience, including its first-class ‘Breeze Ascent’ seating and high-speed inflight WiFi, has quickly gained traction with millions of travelers, garnered the airline the highest Net Promoter Score in the industry, and scored a top five ‘Best US Airline’ ranking in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for two consecutive years.

In 1Q24, Breeze opened nine new stations and announced 11 new cities. The airline is quickly becoming the “hometown carrier” in several key markets, including in 11 cities where Breeze now is the largest carrier in terms of destinations served, by stimulating demand and driving down fares in both small and mid-sized communities while connecting them with highly desirable destinations throughout the year.

Routes from RSW:

The carrier also announced today that Fort Myers’ Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) will become the airline’s ninth base of operations nationally and third in Florida, starting October 1.

Breeze’s first flight from Fort Myers was in June, 2022 and, since then, the airline has flown more than160,000 Guests in and out of RSW. As a base, Breeze will now overnight aircraft, beginning with three aircraft, and the airport will be a crew base for pilots and flight attendants. 

Breeze has grown rapidly at Fort Myers, doubling in size year over year from Q4 2022 to Q4 2023 and now serves 19 destinations nonstop from RSW, including five new routes in the coming months.

Orlando International became Breeze’s eighth base last week on April 1. The remaining bases comprise: Charleston, SC; Hartford, CT; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Providence, RI; Provo, UT; and Tampa, FL

Breeze currently offers 19 destinations from Fort Myers, including five new routes starting this Fall.

From Fort Myers, FL to:

Manchester, NH (Seasonal, Wed and Sat, starting October 2);

Stewart/Newburgh, NY (Seasonal, Wed and Sat, starting October 2); 

• Lansing, MI (Seasonal, Thurs and Sun, starting October 3); 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (Seasonal, Thurs and Sun, starting October 3); and
• Bangor, ME (Seasonal, Wed and Sat, starting October 5).

From Fort Myers, Breeze also serves Akron/Canton, OH; Charleston, SC; Columbus, OH; Hartford, CT; Las Vegas, NV; Louisville, KY; New Orleans, LA; Norfolk, VA; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; Raleigh/Durham, NC; Richmond, VA; and Syracuse, NY nonstop.

Breeze Airways aircraft photo gallery: