Breeze Airways, the budget airline founded by David Neeleman, is once again looking to grow.
The airline said on Wednesday that it will start operating flights between Provo-Salt Lake City, Utah, and Orlando, Florida (MCO), departing from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (SNA) (PVO).
Breeze's 34th airport since its debut in late spring 2021 is in Orange County.
Flights between Provo and Orlando are expected to start on February 16 along with daily service to both destinations.
The flights will be run by Breeze using its new Airbus A220-300 fleet, which offers first-class seats with more legroom (first-class seats can be added as an upgrade and are also included with Breeze's "Nicest" ticket offering).
For a domestic first class product, the chairs in first class are unusual in that they generously recline and have built-in legrests.
Breeze began operations last year with a fleet of Embraer E190 and E195 regional planes leased from Azul in Brazil, which Neeleman also created, for short flights of under two hours.
Breeze has been able to grow and operate longer-range routes between smaller airports thanks to the A220 that the airline has since added to its fleet. The A220 has the range to connect any two cities in the continental U.S.
The announcement of the growth follows a challenging summer for Breeze, during which the low-cost carrier delayed the opening of multiple new markets and routes due to staffing shortages and supply chain challenges, including Airbus delivery delays.
Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson stated in a call on Wednesday that the situation has subsequently improved.
It's great that we're again in a big growth phase, according to Johnson.
We are accelerating swiftly.
In the upcoming weeks, as well as undoubtedly early in the following year, "we'll be announcing a lot more spring markets, and we'll keep going from there," he continued.
According to Johnson, the airline still intends to launch the previously delayed routes, including several that originate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Johnson noted that obtaining landing privileges at the airport can take years of waiting and that Orange County offered an intriguing chance for the airline in the meanwhile.
In a statement that also made note of the proximity of Disney theme parks to both MCO and SNA, Breeze Airways president Tom Doxey noted, "Today marks both our 100th nonstop and our 34th destination with the addition of Orange County.
"I can't think of a better way to honour this milestone than for the 'nicest airline' to connect two of the 'happiest places on earth' while simultaneously providing our Provo Guests with an exciting daytrip choice from their home to the 'house of the mice' in Orange County," said the CEO of Provo Airlines.
If purchased by November 15, prices for flights from Orange County to Orlando start at $119 each way and from Orange County to Provo at $49 each way.
Starting at $199 and $99, respectively, are the "Nicest" fares.
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