Breeze Airways Debuts Airbus A220 on First of 17 Transcontinental Routes

Breeze Airways, the Seriously Nice low-fare airline founded by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, debuted its new fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft today, with inaugural service from Richmond, Virginia, to San Francisco, California, the airline’s first of 17 planned transcontinental flights this summer.

Richmond is the first of six new nonstop routes Breeze will operate from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) this year, including service to Charleston, South Carolina, starting Thursday, and Louisville, Kentucky, from Friday this week. Daily service will commence later this year between SFO and Provo, Utah; San Bernardino, California; and New York/Westchester, New York.

With its new A220 fleet, the airline is now able to operate longer flights than previously with its Embraer E-jet fleet. Breeze plans to serve 17 transcontinental routes this summer, between 15 cities.

Breeze ordered 80 new Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with options for 40 more, that will be delivered one per month for the next six years.  The airline expects to more than double its fleet this year, from 13 Embraer 190 and 195 aircraft to 30 aircraft, including 13 Airbus A220s and four additional Embraer E-jets.

Breeze’s initial A220 aircraft deliveries will feature 126 seats, including 36 First Class seats in a two-by-two configuration, 10 Extra Legroom seats, and 80 Standard Economy seats in a two-by-three configuration.  The A220 seat configuration is dynamic however and later deliveries will offer 137 total seats,  12 First Class seats, 45 Extra Legroom seat and 80 Standard Economy seats onboard.

Seat pitch for a Standard Economy seat on the A220s is 30 inches, while seat pitch for Extra Legroom is 32 inches.   First Class seats feature 39-inches of seat pitch, 20.5-inches of seat width, and special features, such as a footrest, for added comfort. 

Guests may choose from three price bundles that are offered as "Nice," "Nicer" and "Nicest" service.  Guests may even choose a Nice or Nicer bundle and buy an upgrade to a First Class seat.

“The A220-300 is a game-changer for us as we can now serve Guests coast-to-coast!” said Neeleman.  “The A220 offers travelers the widest cabin, highest ceiling, largest windows and biggest overhead stowage in this class, while still managing to burn 25% less fuel, with half the noise footprint of past generations.”