Breeze Nears International Launch After DOT Approval

Breeze Airways is moving closer to launching its first scheduled international routes after receiving approval from the U.S. Transportation Department.

The authorization permits the LCC, established by JetBlue Airways and Azul founder David Neeleman, to operate scheduled passenger, cargo and mail services between the U.S. and countries that have open skies agreements with Washington. It also includes automatic authority to serve any new open skies nations the U.S. may sign agreements with in the future.

Breeze filed its application on May 21, nearly four years to the day after it launched commercial service. Speaking on Aviation Week’s Window Seat podcast in May, Neeleman said Breeze already flies some international charters, but “really want[s] to do scheduled service.”

He added that the airline hopes to begin international operations during the winter 2025–26 season using its Airbus A220-300 fleet. “The plane has about a 3,000-mi. range … so 7 hr. of range,” Neeleman said.

“We can get into South America, all through Central America, if we go from Florida. We can't go too far over the ocean like to Hawaii or anything yet, until we get the ETOPS certification.”

While Breeze has yet to reveal specific destinations, Neeleman said the airline sees a range of possibilities. “There’s a lot of things we can do from going south and hopefully going west, and even some destinations going east at some point in time.”

Breeze’s move follows a similar step by rival Avelo Airlines, which launched its first scheduled international route to Mexico in November 2024. Avelo’s international network now includes Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.