Courtesy Breeze Airways

If residents felt a slight shift in the air Friday, it might have been the announcement coming from Breeze Airways.

Breeze, the self-proclaimed “seriously nice” airline, announced it will not only begin flying out of Provo, but the airport will be the airline’s Utah base. There will be four planes attached to the Provo Airport.

The first routes to come out of Provo will be:

• San Francisco, California (daily nonstop, starting Aug. 4 from $39 one way).
• San Bernardino, California (daily one-stop/no change of plane, starting Aug. 4 from $49 one way).
• Las Vegas, Nevada (daily nonstop, starting Oct. 5, from $29 one way).
• New York/Westchester (daily one-stop/no change of plane, starting Oct. 5, from $99 one way).
• Los Angeles, California (daily nonstop, starting Nov. 2, from $39 one way).

“I give credit to Mayor (Michelle) Kaufusi and her leadership,” said David Neeleman, founder and CEO of Breeze. “She said if you build it, they will come.”

Neeleman noted that Provo is convenient due to its proximity to Silicon Slopes, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, corporate businesses and the general public.

Courtesy Breeze Airways

He added that someone leaving Silicon Slopes and going to the Provo airport, parking, going through TSA checks, to the gates and onto the plane, is faster than going from Lehi to the Salt Lake Airport and doing the same thing.

“My flight could be half-way to San Francisco before the Salt Lake flight gets off the runway,” Neeleman said.

“Through collaborative government funding, we’ve invested in vital infrastructure to create economic momentum, instead of waiting for it,” Kaufusi said. “This forward-looking vision will soon translate to local job growth and a strong economic return regionally with both Breeze Airlines and Allegiant establishing bases of operation in Provo.”

Breeze opened its Cottonwood Heights headquarters in February 2020 and employs around 70 people at the facility, many of whom live in Utah Valley.

“It’s been the question on everyone’s lips since we first opened our offices in Cottonwood Heights — when are you flying from Utah?” Neeleman said. “In addition to the new routes announced today, we’re also making Provo a base, so we’ll be hiring hundreds more people locally.”

Courtesy Breeze Airways

In March, the airline debuted the Breeze Training Academy and flight simulator in Salt Lake City for initial and recurrent training for its pilots, flight attendants and Guest Empowerment teams.

With the new base at Provo, the airline expects to hire an additional 200 team members, while continuing to add jobs across a range of positions including finance, operations, marketing and human resources.

Breeze is already connected to UVU by training flight attendants and helping with their schooling. Neeleman also anticipates working with the university on an airline mechanics program.

Breeze will operate the new routes with its fleet of both Airbus A220s and Embarer 190s. The airline will more than double its fleet this year, from 13 Embraer 190 and 195s to 30 aircrafts including 13 Airbus A220s and four additional Embraer E-jets.

Breeze has ordered 80 brand-new Airbus A220-300 aircrafts, with options for 40 more, that will be delivered monthly for six years. When flying on the E-190 aircraft, guests may choose from two price bundles — “Nice” and “Nicer.”

On the A220s, a third bundle, “Nicest,” is also offered and includes a seat in first class. Guests may also choose a Nice or Nicer bundle and buy an upgrade to first class.

Flights are now on sale at http://flybreeze.com and through the Breeze app.

Breeze Airways began service in May 2021, primarily in the east and southeast of the United States, but is expanding west across the U.S. with 90 nonstop routes between 31 cities in 18 states.

Breeze’s mission is to make the world of travel simple, affordable and convenient, using technology, ingenuity and kindness to improve the travel experience.

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