Breeze is launching transcontinental flights from New York's Westchester County Airport
Breeze Airways is coming to a small airport north of New York City in a big way.
The ultra-low-cost startup is headed to Westchester County Airport (HPN), where it will launch the airport's first transcontinental service this fall.
Daily flights to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) start on Sept. 7, with flights to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) starting on Sept. 8 and flights to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) starting on Nov. 2. These three routes feature a $149 introductory economy class "nice" fares, a $239 extra legroom "nicer" fare and a $249 "nicest" fare featuring first-class recliner seats.
Service on those flights will be operated by Breeze's new Airbus A220-300.
"It's just a perfectly suited airplane for that airport to go transcon," Breeze founder and CEO David Neeleman told TPG in an interview.
The airport features a relatively short, 6,549-foot runway, which can restrict the amount of payload and fuel that an aircraft can carry. Neeleman said that the A220's performance coupled with Breeze's relatively low-density configuration means he has no concerns with making the 2,584-mile hop to San Francisco nonstop, including in the winter months, when headwinds are stronger.
"No issues at all," he said. "We can go fully loaded with the fuel."
Breeze will operate the A220 starting next month — though a few weeks later than originally planned, due to FAA certification delays. Those planes are configured with 126 seats, including 36 recliner seats, 10 extra legroom seats and 80 standard seats. The seats feature in-seat power, though lack personal televisions and will initially lack WiFi, with the first WiFi enabled aircraft expected in October. Breeze currently has four A220s in its fleet, with another aircraft delivered monthly out of its order of 80, Neeleman said.
More: Inside Breeze Airways’ swanky Airbus A220 with a whopping 36 first-class recliners
The A220s are coming to an airport serving an area that lacks convenient transcontinental service.
The airport — 30 miles northeast of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) by car — is popular with locals who live in the upscale bedroom communities of suburban Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. And, though LaGuardia is relatively close, transcontinental flights are also few and far between there thanks to a 1,500-mile perimeter rule that restricts flights at that airport. (The exception is on Saturdays, when Spirit Airlines operates a nonstop roundtrip to Los Angeles.) As a result, those living in the northern suburbs must take a much longer, often traffic-filled trip to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in order to catch a nonstop flight to the West Coast.
In addition to the three transcontinental routes, Breeze is also launching less-than-daily nonstop service to four other destinations. Flights to Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), begin June 28 while service to Norfolk, Virginia (ORF) and Jacksonville, Florida (JAX), begins June 30. Flights to Savannah, Georgia (SAV) launch Sept. 9. One-stop through service to New Orleans (MSY) is also launching starting June 30 via Jacksonville and on Sept. 9 via Savannah. Those routes will be operated with Breeze's fleet of Embraer 190s and 195s.
"Nice" fares start at $49 for Norfolk and New Orleans and $79 for Charleston, Jacksonville and Savannah.
For Neeleman, this airport is personal. A former resident of nearby Fairfield County, he launched JetBlue's service to that airport in 2007 when he was that airline's CEO. Fifteen years later, JetBlue continues to serve White Plains, as the airport is also known, with flights to five Florida cities.
"It was actually my idea and, you know, I thought it would do great out of there — there's just a lot of people that use it," he said.
In addition to JetBlue, Westchester County currently is served by American Airlines' regional flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD); United Airlines' regional flights to Chicago; and Delta Air Lines' mainline and regional flights to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Smaller carriers at the airport include Elite Airways, Cape Air and Tradewind.
The community surrounding Westchester County Airport is notoriously noise sensitive, but Neeleman thinks they'll appreciate how quiet the A220s are — and Breeze's service.
"This plane will even be quieter than anything that JetBlue has flying out of there unless they fly the 220s too," he said. "It's going to be great for the community."
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.