Breeze Airways’ blue planes could soon land in foreign lands.
An executive at the ultra-low-cost startup said Wednesday that the airline is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to get the approvals it needs to operate flights outside the US.
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“We’re in the process,” said commercial director Lukas Johnson at the Skift Aviation Forum in Dallas. “The first year we deployed three types of fleet. Now, we’re in the process with the FAA to add (international) flagging operations. Not announced this week or next, but but it’s not going to be announced this week or next, but it’s not going to be announced.” In the near future we will make some announcements.”
Flag certification is part of the airline’s FAA performance certification. It allows an airline to fly outside the lower 48 contiguous regions of the United States — both internationally and to Alaska and Hawaii, and is a prerequisite for an airline to begin service there. As Johnson said, Breeze is actively working with the FAA on certification signals, an announcement that could be out soon.
Johnson’s comments on Wednesday ended comments he made earlier this year about the airline’s international expansion.
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Than: Breeze plans to launch international flights after the first A220 routes come into operation
“We are going through the certification process for [Airbus A]220 first, then we’ll deal with the sequels, it’s international, etc,” he told TPG in February. Breeze later completed that process. and start A220 service in May.
Depending on the route, Breeze could deploy its Airbus A220 or its Embraer 190 or 195 fleet internationally.
While Johnson didn’t give any hints about Breeze’s initial international markets, it’s likely to be Central America or the Caribbean – as opposed to Canada. Johnson told TPG earlier this year that the airline would avoid selling tickets in foreign currency — and success in the Canadian market often requires engaging passengers on both sides of the border and selling tickets in Canadian dollars.
David Slotnick contributed reporting.
Editor’s Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone, not those of any bank, credit card company, airline or customer chain. hotels and has not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of these organizations.
