Summary
- Breeze Airways expects to transfer its E190 fleet out of scheduled service earlier than expected.
- Upgraded A220s with high-speed WiFi are expected to operate all regular passenger flights by the end of Summer
- Embraer jets are not retiring, but are moving to charter operations.
Breeze Airways is advancing in its efforts to officially transfer its fleet of Embraer E190 family aircraft from regularly scheduled service. The low-cost carrier reportedly expects the regional jets will be fully replaced by its Airbus A220-300 fleet by the end of this Summer.
The news comes as Breeze has also been hard at work updating its A220s to feature high-speed WiFi. Most aircraft were delivered new without the technology, but the airline expects all A220s to be retrofitted with internet connectivity by the end of the second quarter.
From the end of the year to the end of Summer
According to the Runway Girl Network, Breeze revealed last week that all scheduled flights across its network will be operated by its A220s in a few months, which is much earlier than its initial plan. The carrier previously indicated that the newer fuel-efficient aircraft would take over its nationwide operation by the end of this year.
Photo: Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Breeze’s Embraer fleet comprises 10 E190s and five E195s, according to ch-aviation. The E190s accommodate a total of 108 passengers, while the stretched E195s can seat 118 passengers. The seats on both aircraft types are laid out in a single class. The airline began operations in May 2021 by leasing the Embraer fleet, but it took delivery of its first A220-300 in December of that year. Since then, Breeze has acquired 23 examples.
Where are the Embraers going?
Although the Embraer fleet will be phased out of regular scheduled service, they will not be retired entirely. The carrier will transfer the planes to its charter operation. In February, David Neeleman, Breeze’s Founder and CEO, commented on the airline’s plans for the Embraer fleet, highlighting that the planes are appropriate for charter flights.
“We’re the largest charter operator in men’s and women’s NCAA basketball […] It’s a great charter airplane, it’s what we’re doing for sports teams…Eventually, we can do those with the 220’s as well.”
Photo: Raleigh-Durham International Airport
The Embraer fleet remains essential to the carrier as it operated almost 600 flights on the aircraft type in January alone, according to the airline.
“Breeze currently has a diverse breadth of charter clients, including private, corporate, and both professional and collegiate sports, and has seen a year over year increase of up to 51 percent in peak months,” the airline stated.
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The planes are on lease for the next two years, meaning they will continue to fly with the airline.
“We have them until at least 2026, so we’ll continue to operate them in our charter operation,” the CEO said.
One of the largest A220 customers
The exact date when the Embraer fleet will phase out of scheduled service is unclear. Simple Flying reached out to the airline for comment late Sunday but did not receive an immediate response.
Breeze, however, is continuing to expand its A220 fleet. The airline has 90 firm orders and expects to have 32 aircraft in service by the end of this year. Its commitment to the A220 places the carrier as one of the top three A220 customers in the world.
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