Breeze Airways Cleared for International Takeoff in 2026

Breeze Airways has achieved a milestone that few US carriers have reached in recent memory.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Breeze flag carrier status, clearing the way for international service beginning in early 2026. Breeze is the first US airline to win this designation since Virgin America in 2016, and with that approval, the carrier will soon be spreading its wings into Mexico and the Caribbean.

It was no secret that Breeze’s goal was to fly internationally. In fact, the carrier has reportedly been chasing the designation since 2023.

Still, for an airline that only launched operations in 2021, the move represents impressively rapid progress. Breeze built its reputation on connecting underserved domestic markets with efficient point-to-point flights, often linking cities that had long been overlooked by larger competitors. Now, with flag carrier status in hand, the carrier is preparing to test its model on international routes.

The First International Routes

Breeze’s inaugural international network will roll out in stages, beginning in January 2026. The first flights will focus on popular leisure destinations in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Here’s the full schedule of announced routes:

• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) – launches 10 January, 1x weekly, seasonal
  
• Charleston International Airport (CHS) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) – launches 17 January, 1x weekly, seasonal
  
• Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) – launches 7 February, 1x weekly, seasonal
  
• T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Cancún International Airport (CUN) – launches 14 February, 1x weekly, seasonal
  
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Montego Bay – launches 5 March, 2x weekly, seasonal
  
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Dominican Republic – launches 4 March, 2x weekly, seasonal
  
• Tampa International Airport (TPA) to Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Montego Bay – launches 11 February, 1x weekly, seasonal

All services are currently planned as low-frequency, seasonal operations. This common, cautious approach allows Breeze to evaluate demand before scaling up.

A New Crew Base at RDU

To support these new flights, Breeze will establish a crew base at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in early 2026. The base is expected to employ roughly 200 pilots and flight attendants and will serve as a cornerstone for the airline’s new international operations. Positioning a crew base in RDU reflects the strategic importance Breeze places on the mid-Atlantic region, as well as its commitment to expanding in markets that have been historically underserved.

RDU has become a critical part of Breeze’s network and has seen exponential growth there in recent years. Currently, Breeze operates 40 daily flights to 32 nonstop destinations from RDU.

It is worth noting that Breeze will have competition on at least one of these routes. Avelo Airlines currently flies from RDU to PUJ, and American Airlines is set to launch that route in December.

Aligning with Breeze’s Long-Term Vision

This expansion into international markets is a natural evolution of Breeze’s long-term growth strategy. Earlier this year, founder and CEO David Neeleman outlined his goal of serving 150 cities by 2030. The carrier has consistently targeted routes that bypass traditional hub congestion, instead offering direct service from secondary and mid-sized US cities to destinations that were previously difficult to reach without multiple connections.

The Airbus A220 fleet plays a central role in this vision. With its efficiency and range, the A220 allows Breeze to open routes that larger aircraft would make unprofitable and smaller aircraft would struggle to serve. As Breeze grows its fleet, the airline has signaled that international flying beyond Mexico and the Caribbean is on the horizon, with Central and South America as potential next steps.

Opportunities and Challenges of International Operations

Becoming a flag carrier is a significant achievement, but international operations bring added complexity. Breeze will need to navigate bilateral agreements, secure ground handling partners abroad, and manage customs and immigration operations at both ends of each route. The choice to begin with seasonal, once- or twice-weekly flights shows that Breeze is moving carefully, using leisure-heavy destinations to test demand.

Competition will be another factor. While Breeze is the first to launch certain nonstop city pairs, Cancún, Montego Bay, and Punta Cana are well-established markets served by legacy carriers and low-cost competitors alike…from many US cities. Breeze will be betting that its formula of “nice, simple, affordable” flying — paired with nonstop service from overlooked cities — will resonate in the same way it has domestically.

The bigger story here is that Breeze has joined an exclusive club. Becoming the first US airline in nearly a decade to earn FAA approval as a flag carrier is not only symbolic but also a tangible recognition of the airline’s rapid maturity and operational competence.

Breeze’s move means new options for reaching international destinations for travelers in Norfolk, Charleston, Providence, and other mid-sized cities, without backtracking through major hubs.

As Breeze steps into its next chapter, the big question is how far and how fast it will grow internationally. But for now, one thing is clear: at a time when the ULCC model is being tested, Breeze is defying the odds and moving full steam ahead on its goal of 150 cities by 2030.