Rapid Response to Market Opportunity
Wasting no time at all, Breeze Airways has jumped in to fill the gap Avelo will leave behind as it pulls out of several West Coast markets later this year. It’s a bold move that fits right in with Breeze’s fast-paced growth plans.
Less than 48 hours after Avelo revealed plans to cease operations at multiple airports by early December, Breeze confirmed it would add service to four of the abandoned cities, effective March 2026. This expansion will mark Breeze’s first foray into the Pacific Northwest and help the carrier move closer to its goal of serving 150 cities by 2030, as outlined by CEO David Neeleman earlier this year.
The new destinations include:
- California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) | Eureka/Arcata, CA
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) | Burbank, CA
- Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) | Pasco, WA
- Eugene Airport (EUG) | Eugene, OR
- Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) | Bend/Redmond, OR
Avelo flights to Eugene and Redmond will end on 1 December, while service to Eureka, Pasco, and Burbank will end the following day.
In addition to picking up Avelo’s routes, Breeze is introducing three new routes to existing markets:
- Provo Airport (PVU) to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to LAS
- MSY to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Breeze Steps in with New Routes and Frequencies
Breeze’s new West Coast routes will commence in March 2026, with the following schedules:
- BUR to RDM: 2x weekly, from 13 March
- BUR to PSC: 2x weekly, from 18 March
- BUR to ACV: 3x weekly, from 12 March
- BUR to EUG: 2x weekly, from 19 March
- RDM to LAS: 2x weekly, from 13 March
- PVU to BUR: 5x weekly, from 11 March (not a former Avelo route)
These new routes help Breeze stick to what it does best: serving smaller, often overlooked airports. By adding places like Bend, Eugene, and Pasco, the airline is staying true to its low-cost, point-to-point model, offering affordable nonstop flights without the hassle of busy, congested hubs.
It’s interesting to note that BUR holds some symbolic value for Avelo as it was home to the airline’s first-ever flight and served as one of its main bases. It will be interesting to see if Breeze bolsters its presence at BUR to the point where it could become a base like Avelo had there. Right now, aside from Provo near Salt Lake City (which is close to Breeze’s headquarters in Cottonwood Heights), all its crew bases are back east.
Markets Left Behind by Avelo’s Retreat
While Breeze is stepping in to serve most of Avelo’s abandoned markets, four cities will not see Breeze service:
- Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, CA
- Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) in Medford, OR
- Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell, MT
- Salem-Willamette Valley Airport (SLE) in Portland/Salem, OR
Notably, SLE will be left without commercial air service altogether. However, its proximity to Portland International Airport (PDX), just over an hour away, somewhat lessens the impact. STS, MFR, and FCA retain service from other carriers and could very well become part of Breeze’s route map as it continues to expand its fleet in the years to come.
In a separate move, Breeze has quietly dropped Plattsburgh International Airport in New York from its list of destinations, suggesting it won’t be returning. While the airline had previously called it a “break,” this now looks more like a permanent exit. The change likely has to do with continued challenges in the market, especially with fewer travelers crossing the border between the U.S. and Canada. Often marketed as “Montréal’s US Airport” because of its close proximity, Plattsburgh is now only served by Allegiant Air, which flies to Florida, and Contour Airlines, which connects to Washington Dulles (IAD).
Fleet Expansion Fuels Breeze Growth
Breeze’s ability to seize this opportunity stems from its ongoing fleet expansion. The carrier currently operates 54 aircraft, including 43 Airbus A220-300s and 11 Embraer ERJ 190s, with 46 in active service, per planespotters.net. The A220-300s, with an average age of just 2.1 years, form the backbone of Breeze’s modern, fuel-efficient fleet. Earlier this year, Breeze said it expected to take delivery of 16 new A220s by the end of 2025. Seven have already arrived, with nine more on the way before the end of the year. This steady stream of new aircraft gives Breeze the capacity to support additional routes and flight frequencies while keeping operations efficient.
It’s also worth mentioning that while Breeze and Avelo have similar business models in that they don’t offer daily service on most routes, Breeze typically operates fewer flights between city pairs than Avelo did. Additionally, Avelo’s Boeing 737-700s, which it uses for its West Coast operation, seat 149 passengers. Breeze’s Airbus A220s come in slightly smaller, with 137 seats.
Still, we’re sure the affected communities will take wins anywhere they can get them.
The Silver Lining to Avelo’s Pullback
Breeze was quick to pounce after Avelo’s pullback, showing just how nimble it can be in the cutthroat low-cost airline game. By focusing on secondary airports, Breeze sidesteps head-to-head battles with the big carriers and appeals to budget-conscious travelers who want easy, nonstop flights that start and end in airports that aren’t the size of a country. Still, the fact that it skipped over some of Avelo’s soon-to-be-abandoned routes shows it’s being picky–and rightfully so. The airline industry, after all, is a business. And it makes sense for airlines to choose markets that better fit their strategy or show more promise.
Founder David Neeleman’s goal of flying to 150 destinations by 2030 is lofty, but it’s not out of reach. Breeze’s growing fleet and its bet on the fuel-efficient A220-300 give it the tools to keep costs low and scale up in a way that makes sense.
As Breeze integrates these new routes, we will watch closely to see how the carrier balances growth with profitability. We never like to see a city lose air service–something that has been all too common in small– to midsize American cities since 2020. But if there is a silver lining in Avelo’s West Coast retreat, it’s that most of its former passengers will have a new low-cost option thanks to Breeze Airways.
