JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman is launching a new airline. The airline was first known by the placeholder name Moxy, and it is now officially named Breeze Airways.

The New Airline Breeze Airways

Neeleman founded JetBlue after his non-compete from Southwest’s acquisition of Morris Air, where he was CEO, expired. During that non-compete period, he was involved in the launch of Canada’s WestJet. A citizen of Brazil as well as the US, Neeleman launched Brazilian carrier Azul. He’s also a partner in Star Alliance carrier TAP Air Portugal. He is no longer running JetBlue.

“After years of U.S. airline consolidation, the conditions are improving for a new generation of US airlines to emerge,” Neelman said in a press statement

Plans for the creation of the new airline Breeze Airways were unveiled in the summer of 2018. Neeleman said his fifth air carrier will operate non-stop flights between mid-size cities that currently lack meaningful or affordable service.

“We brought humanity back to the airline industry with JetBlue. Today, we’re excited to introduce plans for ‘the World’s Nicest Airline.’” Neeleman said

The Breeze Airways logo

Initially, the new carrier aimed to launch in 2021. However, reports surfaced in 2019 that the airline could bring up the launch date to 2020 with Embraer jets from Azul, of which David Neeleman is chairman of the board. Neeleman already signed an order for 60 Airbus SE A220-300 planes to power the US carrier, but the first of those aircraft won’t be delivered until 2021. That makes the 2020 launch date a stretch. In the meantime, the Embraer E195s he’s replacing with newer models at Azul could be used on routes flown by Breeze Airways. Breeze Airways is currently applying for its Air Operator’s Certificate with the US Federal Aviation Administration. The carrier will be based in Salt Lake City but Neeleman gave no further information regarding specific routes.

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