New airline offering flights from Columbus has $39 introductory flights

This photo provided by CeanOrrett shows a Breeze aircraft.  Two new U.S. airlines are planning on starting service this spring, tapping into the travel recovery that is picking up speed.  Breeze Airways is next up, the latest creation of David Neeleman, who founded JetBlue Airways more than 20 years ago.  (CeanOrrett via AP)

Credit: Uncredited

Credit: Uncredited

This photo provided by CeanOrrett shows a Breeze aircraft. Two new U.S. airlines are planning on starting service this spring, tapping into the travel recovery that is picking up speed. Breeze Airways is next up, the latest creation of David Neeleman, who founded JetBlue Airways more than 20 years ago. (CeanOrrett via AP)

Breeze Airways, a new U.S. carrier started by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, announced today it will offer 39 nonstop routes between 16 cities, including Columbus.

The first flights will operate between Charleston, South Carolina, Tampa, Florida and Hartford, Con. starting May 27, with remaining destinations to be added each week through July 22.

Flights are now on sale starting at just $39 one way.

From Columbus, the airline will offer nonstop flights to Tampa, Florida (July 3); Charleston, South Carolina (July 8); Hartford, Connecticut (July 22); New Orleans, Louisiana (July 16); and Norfolk, Virginia (July 22).

Breeze is Neeleman’s fifth airline start-up, after JetBlue, Brazil’s Azul, Canada’s WestJet, and Utah-based Morris Air, which was later purchased by Southwest Airlines. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, Breeze will focus most flights from four main airports: Tampa, Charleston, New Orleans, and Norfolk, the company said in a release.

“Together, we created Breeze as a new airline merging technology with kindness. Breeze provides nonstop service between underserved routes across the U.S. at affordable fares. A staggering 95 percent of Breeze routes currently have no airline serving them nonstop. With seamless booking, no change or cancellation fees, up to 24-months of reusable flight credit and customized flight features delivered via a sleek and simple app, Breeze makes it easy to buy and easy to fly,” Neeleman said.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said: “Increasing Ohio’s air service will drive growth in regional economies and create jobs. Breeze Airways will connect Ohio companies across multiple sectors to business connections and customers at over 350 facilities across the eight routes served from Ohio, further fueling our state’s economic recovery.”

“These 16 cities are just the beginning for Breeze,” said Neeleman. “The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s air service has meant many secondary markets and smaller cities have seen a significant reduction in flights. There are so many city pairs needing nonstop service around the country, we have a further 100 cities under consideration. Flying nonstop, Breeze will get you there in half the time, but also for about half the price!”

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