Breeze Airways has just updated its schedule to reveal its first Airbus A220-300 routes, which is pretty exciting.
Breeze will fly A220s as of May 2022
As spotted by @IshrionA, Breeze Airways has just updated its schedule to reflect the carrier’s first Airbus A220 routes. The airline has initially revealed 17 Airbus A220 routes, with Tampa being the biggest market for the plane.
Breeze will fly A220s from Tampa (TPA) to the following airports:
- Akron/Canton (CAK) as of May 4, 2022
- Bentonville (XNA) as of May 6, 2022
- Charleston (CHS) as of May 4, 2022
- Huntsville (HSV) as of May 6, 2022
- Louisville (SDF) as of May 4, 2022
- Norfolk (ORF) as of May 4, 2022
- Oklahoma City (OKC) as of May 4, 2022
- Richmond (RIC) as of May 4, 2022
- Tulsa (TUL) as of May 5, 2022
Breeze will fly A220s from Charleston (CHS) to the following airports:
- Hartford (BDL) as of June 2, 2022
- Huntsville (HSV) as of June 30, 2022
- Providence (PVD) as of May 5, 2022
- Richmond (RIC) as of May 26, 2022
- Tampa (TPA) as of May 4, 2022
Breeze will fly A220s from Norfolk (ORF) to the following airports:
- Columbus (CMH) as of June 2, 2022
- Hartford (BDL) as of June 2, 2022
- Tampa (TPA) as of May 4, 2022
As someone who grew up in Tampa and still spends a lot of time there, I’m thrilled to see that the airline is choosing Tampa as the biggest initial base for the A220. I guess that suggests the carrier’s flights out of the city are performing pretty well.
What makes Breeze’s A220s special?
For context, Breeze is the airline startup that launched operations in May 2021. The airline was founded by David Neeleman, the same guy behind JetBlue. While the airline initially launched operations with leased Embraer E190/195 aircraft, the long term plan is for the airline to primarily operate Airbus A220s, as the airline has 80 of these on order.
The A220 is a joy to fly in general, given that it’s quiet, fuel efficient, and has a spacious cabin with a 2-3 layout. What’s especially cool is how Breeze Airways has chosen to configure these planes. Breeze A220-300s will feature just 126 seats, including 36 first class seats, which is unheard of.
Breeze sure is taking an unusual approach for a low cost carrier, and I’m sure passengers will love the experience. I’m curious if they’re willing to pay for it, though.
How much is Breeze charging for first class?
One of the big questions has been how much Breeze would charge for first class, known as “Nicest.” The airline doesn’t offer first class on Embraer aircraft, so we’ve been waiting for the A220s to see what first class pricing would be like.
We’ve been promised the premium for first class would be mild, and indeed that’s the case. For example, looking at a one-way fare from Tampa to Tulsa, the cheapest fare (“Nice”) is $79, while the first class fare (“Nicest”) is $99.
An extra $20 for that is an absolute bargain, especially when you consider what’s included. Not only do you get a first class seat, but you get two free checked bags, a full size carry-on, priority boarding, and a drink and snack (though note that unlike other airlines, there’s no free alcohol or meals).
What an absolute deal, and any passenger who can swing it absolutely should pay the extra $20 for that, as you won’t find value like that on any other airline.
I’m very curious to see how this evolves, and love the way Breeze is headed.
Bottom line
Breeze Airways’ much anticipated Airbus A220 flights are now on sale. The airline will start flying the new planes as of May 2022, with Tampa being the biggest base. The A220 will finally offer the passenger experience that Breeze has been promising all along, including the introduction of first class. Breeze first class is quite a deal, and you can bet that I’ll be flying the airline out of Tampa in May.
What do you make of Breeze Airways’ initial A220 routes, and first class pricing?
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