Breeze Airways Lands in Humboldt as Avelo Exits
Breeze Airways, which describes itself as a premium low-cost carrier focused on connecting underserved cities, announced today that it will begin flying out of the Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) starting March 12, 2026. The move comes on the heels of Avelo Airlines’ decision to discontinue service to Humboldt County, a loss that left travelers and officials concerned about diminished access to Southern California.
Breeze will offer nonstop flights to Burbank-Hollywood three times a week and one-stop, no-change-of-plane “BreezeThru” service to Provo-Salt Lake City. Introductory fares for the Burbank route start at $39 one-way.
Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell praised the quick turnaround: “I’m so excited that in Avelo’s departure, we have Breeze coming in right behind them, and these are affordable flights …to Burbank and Utah. Bushnell also praised the county for their quick action following Avelo’s announcement just two days ago. “I’m just so excited that the Aviation Department has been working so hard to increase options in Humboldt County, and that in the wake of the news that Avelo is departing, that we were able to secure, right away, a different carrier that will make up for that departure.”
The new routes are part of Breeze’s growing West Coast expansion. Founded in 2021 by aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman, the airline has garnered national attention for its affordability, convenience, and customer-friendly policies. “Arcata-Eureka is exactly the kind of underserved market our airline set out to serve and we’re confident our new Guests will enjoy their enhanced travel experience onboard one of our brand-new Airbus A220 aircraft,” Neeleman said. Breeze says their Airbus A220 aircraft offers fast onboard WiFi, power at every seat, free family seating, and no change or cancellation fees.
The county’s efforts to attract a replacement carrier appear to be part of a broader push to support air travel in the region. Bushnell noted that ridership on both United and Avelo had been rising, due in part to increased promotional efforts. “The county invested in advertising both inside and outside Humboldt to raise awareness of the available flights and fares, and that’s really helped boost usage,” she said.
Bushnell added that she’s not stopping at two airlines. “Hopefully, we will continue to look for flights to go to the north …to Portland and that area up there,” she said. “And I’m hoping that we will just get another carrier.”
Travelers can begin booking Breeze flights to and from ACV starting today at flybreeze.com.
Earlier: Avelo Airlines to Depart California After Deportation Flight Backlash
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Good News!
So, how much did the county subsidize them to operate here, more than the +/- $ 2000.00 they wasted not supporting avelo. They would have left anyway, but….
Annnd we’re back!
Let’s hope they don’t just blow in and then blow out.
So, how much did this cost the taxpayers upfront…???
Humboldt County itself hasn’t paid Breeze Airways directly to begin service at Arcata–Eureka Airport (ACV). Instead, the launch of new routes is being supported through a combination of federal and community-based programs:
So, while Humboldt County (or airport authority) helped by waiving fees (an in‑kind form of support), the primary financial relationship is through federal grant funding and local community matches—not direct payments to Breeze Airways
ChatGPT
So….taxpayer money. OUR money.
But what percentage of your tax dollars went for this and will you benefit from cheaper air fare?
No, just yours
Gotta pay to play, man. You like fire service and roads too, right? If your house isn’t on fire, someone else’s is, so you’re subsidizing the effort.
More going to Utah than are coming back?
$$$…???
Breeze has a good reputation and operates the newest Airbus A220 jets, popular with passengers for their comfort, generous overhead storage, and 2 X 3 seating. With Alaska Airlines developing Seattle as a hub after their merger with Hawaiian, we should try to get them to offer flights to Seattle on their subsidiary Horizon Air.
Horizon I can see, being that they own it already as you point out. If just puddle jumpers to Redding or Medford where Alaska already flies to. Now with Hawaiian you can get to Honolulu and also island hop while there. You’ll be able to fly to Seoul later this year from Seattle and they contract with Japan Air to Tokyo. They’re expanding. A lot. Current destinations.
Breeze seems like a good low-cost fit for us and a decent replacement for Avelo. Perhaps they could also provide short hops to the interior and connect with the other airlines so we don’t have to fly to L.A. just to get to Portland or some other lengthy switch.
well, this is exciting news.
You landed that headline perfectly Lisa.
Hopefully no one will be offended by it like the last one.
Some people…
Definitely not offended, just a little devil’s avocation (not), how about “Landing”? — March 12, 2026
Cool! And I heard that Breeze is negotiating a contract with Homeland Security to fly deportations for ICE. So maybe next Spring out of ACV will be when ICE rolls up here? Expect it- It is coming
Link.
New paint and logo.
Same shi$
ICE nein.
Vonnegut was way out front.
I call bullshit. But in your head, are you perhaps confusing ICE with EAS or Essential Air Service, which they’ve bid on? I mean, it could sound like that if you mispronounced the acronym.
Yes!
You guessed it.
New paint and Logo.
Simple humans.
Were it not for their decision to become Deportation Airlines, I would have decried Avelo’s departure. They provided competitive rates to Burbank/ LA. Much better than United does (to LAX).
Avelo provided a good opportunity to struggle with a moral vs economic choice. It was hard to pass up their good fares, but I just could not bring myself to break a (de facto) boycott, due to their part in the brutal and illegal efforts to take many good, hard working people out of our country.