Breeze Airways will launch its first international flights from New Orleans next year after winning federal certification as a U.S. Flag Carrier, making it the first airline in more than a decade to complete the FAA’s rigorous process.
The Utah-based carrier, founded by JetBlue and Azul creator David Neeleman, will begin seasonal nonstop service to Cancun, Mexico, on Feb. 7, 2026, pending final approvals, the airline announced Thursday. Fares start at $99 one way, with service initially scheduled on Saturdays through mid-May.
Overseas travel
The New Orleans route is part of Breeze’s initial wave of international expansion, which also includes flights to Cancun from Norfolk, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina. More cities, including Providence, Tampa, and Raleigh, are slated to get international flights later in 2026.
At Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, whose call sign is MSY, the move represents a significant investment. Breeze currently employs about 140 people at MSY, and Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson said staffing and operations there will roughly double as the airline shifts its New Orleans fleet from smaller Embraer jets to Airbus A220-300s early next year.
“That’s what’s really exciting for us — we’re going to be up about 90% in available seats by March, close to doubling year over year,” Johnson said. “New Orleans will also be one of the first places to see our new A220s, with first-class seating and more international capability.”
Airport director Kevin Dolliole said in a statement announcing the new routes that the expansion underscores the airport’s role as a core part of Breeze’s expansion plan.
“Having New Orleans selected as one of their inaugural cities for international service speaks volumes about New Orleans’ position as a premier destination and our airport’s growing connectivity,” he said.
Bucking the trend
While international travel has been soft globally, Johnson said that Cancun flights will target U.S. leisure travelers rather than rely on cross-border demand. The route will also be seasonal, pausing during the slow autumn months before resuming for peak holiday and summer travel periods.
The certification marks a turning point for Breeze, which launched in 2021 with a strategy of connecting midsize markets often overlooked by larger carriers. The airline already flies more than 300 routes to 81 U.S. cities.
Johnson suggested that Breeze could expand its international footprint further if the Cancun routes perform well, naming destinations such as Montego Bay and Punta Cana as logical next steps. He also noted that turmoil among larger budget airlines could give Breeze opportunities to grow in New Orleans, where it has quickly become one of the airport’s larger operators.
In recent months, several ultra-low-cost carriers have shown signs of distress — tightening capacity, cutting routes, or restructuring under financial strain. Spirit Airlines, for example, has said it will furlough around one-third of its flight attendants and reduce its schedule by 25% starting in November as part of a bankruptcy restructuring plan.
Such turbulence puts pressure on smaller carriers, and Johnson is wagering Breeze can capitalize by filling gaps left behind in key markets like New Orleans.
Changing charter plans
Johnson also pointed to the airline’s active charter business in New Orleans, particularly with sports teams.
Breeze continues to operate charters for colleges and professional franchises using its Embraer fleet, though Johnson said the mix will change as those aircraft retire. The newer Airbus A220s, with first-class seating and higher costs, are expected to shift the charter focus toward marquee events, high-profile teams and concerts.
That shift also means some earlier contracts have ended. A charter deal Breeze signed three years ago with Tulane University’s non-football sports teams is no longer in operation, though Johnson emphasized the airline remains active in the sports travel market and is pursuing other opportunities.
Looking ahead, he said Breeze is lining up charter work tied to major global events, including the FIFA Club World Cup matches scheduled in the U.S. next summer. That business, combined with contracts from major college programs and entertainment acts, will keep New Orleans central to Breeze’s charter operations even as the company’s business model evolves.
“We’re still planning on doing tons of sports charters out of New Orleans in the first quarter next year,” Johnson said.
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