Moxy Airlines, a start-up airline by the same founder as JetBlue (JBLU) , has changed name to Breeze Airways. The carrier is still awaiting the green light by regulators to launch operations, with hopes to take off by the end of 2020.
World’s nicest airline in the making?
Breeze Airways management is currently working to obtain the Air Operator’s Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration and US Department of Transportation. If everything goes according to the plan, it could be up and running by the end of the year.
Breeze Airways is looking to use the U.S. airlines’ consolidation and hub models to their advantage, as the newcomer would be flying mid-sized U.S. city pairs that currently have no nonstop service.
Ever since United Airlines’ infamous “David Doe being dragged out of aplane” incident, the airline, as well as other U.S. legacy carriers, have been battling their bad reputation for customer service. Breeze sees another opportunity here, stating their future employees would be hired according to their “commitment to customer service and kindness”.
“Breeze will fly non-stop service between places currently without meaningful or affordable service,” Neeleman is cited in the company’s statement as saying. “20 years ago, we brought humanity back to the airline industry with JetBlue (JBLU) . Today, we’re excited to introduce plans for ‘the World’s Nicest Airline’.”
During Farnborough International Airshow 2018, Moxy placed an order for 60 Airbus A220 jets, deliveries expected to start from 2021.
Who is behind Breeze Airways?
The hype surrounding Breeze Airways has less to do with its business plan and much more with the founder. The airline to-be is the fifth airline started by David Neeleman.
Neeleman, a Brazilian-American entrepreneur, is, among others, the founder of the U.S. low-cost carrier JetBlue (JBLU) . The airline, which began operations in 2000, is now the sixth biggest in the United States and approximately seventh biggest in the continent by passenger numbers. In 2019, it carried over 42 million passengers.
Besides JetBlue (JBLU) , Neeleman is also a founder of WestJet, Azul Brazilian Airlines and Morris Air. WestJet, a Canadian low-cost carrier, is currently the second biggest airline in the country and the 9th in North America by passenger numbers. Azul Brazilian Airlines, in turn, is the 4th largest airline in South America.
While Morris Air is the only Neeleman’s creation which is not operating anymore, that does not mean that the airline was unsuccessful. On the contrary. Founded in 1984 as Morris Air Service, the carrier began scheduled operations in 1992. The following year, Southwest Airlines (LUV) bought the airline for over $120 million in stock. Morris Air was also the first airline in the world to offer ticketless transportation, as they invented e-ticket.
Other adventures by Neeleman include Portugal’s flag carrier TAP Air Portugal and Brazilian Azul Airlines, of which he is still a controlling shareholder and a chairman.