Spotlight On: Brian McCormick, Director of Airport Properties, Facilities & Contract Services, Breeze Airways
June 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Brian McCormick, director of airport properties, facilities and contract services at Breeze Airways, discussed Breeze’s plans for expansion and becoming an international flight carrier, its innovation efforts in customer service, and how a niche market strategy has allowed it to achieve a significant presence.
What is the state of the transit airport industry, and what opportunity does that present for Breeze?
The industry for us is very exciting. It presents a robust opportunity for growth. We are a bit different from larger carriers as we found a niche thanks to our founder, David Neeleman, who has a history of creating successful airlines. He has always believed that you should not start an airline without a clear niche and mission to serve an underserved market. That is exactly what Breeze is doing.
Our aircraft are state-of-the-art, new, fuel-efficient, quiet, and customer-friendly, featuring larger windows. Importantly, they can access smaller markets that other airlines have abandoned. Many communities, like Jacksonville, lost service as larger airlines focused on bigger markets. Today, we operate 90% of our routes without direct competition.
What does the growth of Jacksonville and the surrounding Northeast Florida region mean for the general evolution of the transportation industry and airlines?
The next step for us is to grow our commitment to the region. Jacksonville is one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States, offering robust opportunities for further expansion. Currently, we operate 15 nonstop routes, including new services to San Diego, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. We see significant potential given Jacksonville’s appeal to both visitors and residents looking to travel.
Our commitment to Jacksonville is exemplified by becoming a signatory carrier, a rare distinction in the airline industry. This status, which we were the first to achieve in Jacksonville in 20 years, since JetBlue, signifies a long-term relationship with the community. As a signatory carrier, we receive better operating rates at the airport in exchange for our enduring commitment. This move underscores our dedication to Jacksonville and our plans for continued growth and service expansion in the area.
What are some recent technologies you are looking at or have implemented to improve customer service?
We are investing time in enhancing our model with AI. One of our unique selling points is our app, which functions similarly to a ride-share experience. Our guests can use their smartphones for virtually every transaction. We want people to be able to use their phone, do what they need, and head to the gate.
Traditionally, at airports, you would line up for various reasons like changing a seat or modifying a flight. We are removing those transactions from the airport. Now, people can use their phones to handle these tasks and proceed directly to the gate. The only step passengers cannot yet do on their phones is checking in a bag.
Our app aims to make the travel experience simple and user-friendly. We are continually integrating emerging technologies, including AI, to improve it further. Exciting developments are on the horizon as our IT team continues to enhance the app.
What is the strategy for creating new employment opportunities for the airline?
First and foremost, it is about ensuring we successfully grow with the equipment we have. We have a long-term commitment to our aircraft, especially as we receive a new aircraft every month from Airbus. Each new A220-300 delivery requires us to hire 50 new team members to operate it.
We carefully choose markets where we believe the aircraft will succeed. Currently, we serve 56 markets, including Jacksonville. Over our first three years of operation, we have exited only four markets, maintaining a success rate of over 90%.
Every new route brings growth and more employment opportunities, not just for Breeze but also for our business partners who help fuel the airplane, load baggage, and cater the aircraft. We are committed to expanding, with plans to add another 50 to 60 aircraft in the next five to six years.
What is next for Breeze Airways?
Eventually, we are going to fly internationally. Currently, we are a 100% domestic airline, but we are preparing to meet with regulators to achieve our status as a flag carrier.
Our A220-300 aircraft has a long range, allowing 137 guests to fly five to six hours. This capability opens opportunities to expand into international markets. By drawing a circle around Jacksonville, you can see potential destinations in Latin America, the northern coast of South America, and various islands.
There is a lot of opportunity to grow in that market. While it may be a couple of years away, you can expect to see Breeze operate international flights in the near future.
What is the mission of Breeze Airways?
Our mission revolves around our guests. We do not call them passengers since they are our guests, and it is all about serving them in our home, our aircraft. We provide the best possible environment with the newest, most comfortable aircraft, and we take them where they want to go. We continue to add new, unserved routes with our fleet of modern aircraft, utilizing technology to make the experience simple and comfortable for our guests.
Our guests prefer nonstop, point-to-point service over navigating big hubs. They do not want to run through a crowded airport to catch a connecting flight. We offer nonstop service, which is why we have identified hundreds of unserved route combinations. This commitment to direct, nonstop routes is the secret to Breeze’s success.
We like to say we are nice people, flying nice people to nice places.
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