Breeze Airways Founder Hopes to Fill Gap at Under Served Akron-Canton Airport
The lack of commercial air service at Akron-Canton Airport makes it a prefect spot for Breeze Airways to fill a gap, airline founder David Neeleman says.
The new airline arrives at Akron- Canton on Saturday with a flight from Tampa, Florida. By the end of July, Breeze plans to offer service from Akron- Canton to New Orleans and Charleston, South Carolina, along with Tampa.
Breeze started in May and is serving smaller cities that have minimal competition, Neeleman said Wednesday in a telephone interview. The company selected communities that don't have many options, he said.
During its first six weeks, Breeze has moved 100,000 passengers.
"People are loving the service," Neeleman said. "We're happy with the bookings."
The airline is based in Slat Lake City, Utah, but will focus service on four cities, Charleston, New Orleans, Tampa and Norfolk, Virginia. The airline is starting off with flights connecting 16 cities in the Midwest, Southeast, Southwest and along the East Coast.
Fifth new airline launch
Since the 1980s, Neeleman has helped launch five different airlines. He also is a major shareholder in another airline.
Morris Air, a low-fare charter airline, formed in 1984 and Neeleman was president when it was sold to Southwest Airlines in 1993. Neeleman worked with Southwest for about a year, then helped launch WestJet, a Canadian airline based in Calgary.
Neeleman started JetBlue in 1999. He modeled the business after Southwest, but included amenities such as in-flight movies. But he was replaced as CEO in 2007 following an incident where weather led to nearly 1,700 flight cancellations. He stayed on as non-executive chairman for year.
Although he left JetBlue, Neeleman pointed out that the airline has remained successful. According to different reports, JetBlue is the country's sixth or seventh largest airline — based on passengers carried — in a second tier behind Southwest, Delta, American and United Airlines.
Two months before being bumped as JetBlue chairman, Neeleman helped start Azul Brazilian Airlines. That company ranks among Brazil's top three airlines. Neeleman also joined a partnership that in 2015 purchased TAP Air Portugal, which had been a state-owned airline in Portugal.
Making new connections
Neeleman's formula for Breeze — providing air service to underserved communities — is similar tp what has been used with his other airlines. He believes there is an untapped market for nonstop flights between small cities.
According to the airline, 95% of the cities that Breeze will serve have no airline providing nonstop service.
That plan leaves Breeze without competition.
"Our competition is the couch," Neeleman said, saying he believes high prices and lack of service have people sitting at home instead of traveling.
He believes that Breeze's fares and destinations will encourage people to travel.
"There are opportunities for people to see new places," he said.
Initially he expects the airline to attract vacationers. He hopes to tap into pent-up demand for vacation trips now that the coronavirus pandemic seems to be nearing an end and people want to see friends and relatives again.
Business travel could be part of the future, Neeleman said, but that remains uncertain because of the pandemic.
Future growth at CAK?
Akron-Canton Airport will be the sixth location served by Breeze when the flight from Tampa arrives Saturday afternoon. Service between Akron- Canton and Charleston begins July 8, and flights to New Orleans start July 15.
More connections could come depending on interest from travelers, Neeleman said.
Akron- Canton officials obviously were happy when Breeze announced in May that the airport would be part of its network. The airport had been negotiating with Breeze since 2019.
Akron- Canton has seen a steady decline in passengers since 2012. A key factor was Southwest's purchase on AirTran Airways. The airline began serving Akron- Canton in the mid 1990s — initially as as ValuJet — and grew to be the airport's largest carrier.
Southwest gradually phased out AirTran service from Akron- Canton and eventually consolidated all of its Northeast Ohio service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Airport officials began last year working with area legislators and JobsOhio on a plan that paired local and state dollars to attract airline service. Local municipalities and organizations pledged a combined $250,000 toward enticing an airline to add or resume service at Akron- Canton, while the state offered additional support.
The decision by Breeze to serve Akron- Canton came as a result on collaboration between state and local groups, JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said in May following the announcement. It also shows that the airport remains an attractive alternative for Northeast Ohio travelers.
Also serving Columbus
Ren Camacho, president and CEO at Akron- Canton, said the initial service offered by Breeze reflects destinations that Northeast Ohio travelers are seeking.
Breeze also will offer service from Columbus beginning in July. Flights will go to Hartford, Connecticut, and Norfolk, along with Charleston, New Orleans and Tampa.
In May, Gov. Mike DeWine said Breeze's added air service locally and in Columbus would help the state's economic recovery following the pandemic.
“Increasing Ohio’s air service will drive growth in regional economies and create jobs," he said in a prepared statement.
Being nice
Breeze is using 13 Embraer Air jets that carry 108 to 118 passengers, depending on the configuration. The airline has an order for 60 Airbus A220 jets and the first are expected this fall.
Breeze is promoting itself as the "Seriously Nice" airline that can get customers to a location twice as fast at half the cost.
The airline is counting on a combination of technology with kindness to offer travelers a better experience with low fares and more flexibility. Neeleman said the airline's app has received a good response.
"We can always be nice to our customers," he said.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Breeze Airways founder hopes to fill gap at under served Akron-Canton Airport
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