Just days after budget carrier Avelo announced its exit from Hollywood-Burbank Airport hub and broader West Coast operations, Breeze has responded by announcing service to five of those same underserved markets beginning in March 2026. As a local resident, I could not be more thrilled.

As Avelo Abandons Burbank Airport, Breeze Airways Fills The Void With West Coast Expansion

Avelo Airlines announced in July 2025 that it will cease all West Coast operations, including its longtime Burbank hub, by December 2025, citing financial pressure and competitive challenges. Its top 10 revenue-generating routes are all on the East Coast and its West Coast operation came to be seen as a poor allocation of resources.

Within days, Breeze Airways announced a major expansion on the West Coast, including new flights from Burbank to cities that were previously served by Avelo. Breeze uses a fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft…beautiful planes (though in my experience, dirty).

Burbank Routes – Breeze Airways (Starting March 2026)

Here’s the flight schedule for new Burbank service, starting next March:

Tickets are on sale now, with fares starting at $39 one-way.

Lukas Johnson, Breeze’s Chief Commercial Officer, explained:

“Breeze was started to bring affordable, premium air service to underserved communities and we look forward to introducing new West Coast travelers to our premium product at a time when many of these airports are more underserved than ever. We have long been monitoring opportunities to expand our network on the West Coast and hope the news will be a welcome reprieve for travelers in these communities.”

David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Breeze, added:

“With an expanded West Coast presence that connects travelers to our broader nationwide network, Breeze’s service will bring even more options and convenience to these underserved communities. Our unique form of air travel that combines affordability and ease with high‑value options like premium seating and inflight WiFi is not only working, but highly desired by today’s travelers.”

But will Breeze fare better in Burbank than Avelo did?

My Take

I readily admit I am biased because it is my home airport, but I see Burbank as the “Goldilocks” of the Los Angeles airports. It’s small enough that you can still show up 30-40 minutes before your flight and make it and convenient enough that people in large swaths of LA County can get BUR easily and more quickly than Los Angeles International Airport.  Breeze now fills that void left by Avelo with a fresher, more passenger-friendly product: modern A220s, optional premium seating, snacks, inflight Wi-Fi, and predictable schedules.

It’s reasonable to question why these routes would work for Breeze if they did not work for Avelo, but hopefully, Breeze will be able to generate more revenue per flight with ancillaries like snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and premium cabin seats, which were not available on Avelo’s fleet of aging Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

The aviation landscape is better when competition thrives. Breeze’s success in these markets could solidify more long-term options for travelers. I’d love to see Burbank become a future base for Breeze.

CONCLUSION

As Avelo pulls out of Burbank and the broader West Coast, Breeze Airways is moving in, not just to replace capacity, but to upgrade it. With five new routes launching in March 2026, Breeze sees an opportunity even where Avelo struggled. Breeze’s move extends its existing Provo-based network and introduces its Seriously Nice A220 service to communities previously abandoned by Avelo. For travelers in these communities, the void left by Avelo is being filled, and perhaps upgraded, with the same cheap economy class options, but a premium cabin of service, wi-fi, and an overall better flight experience.

Will Breeze thrive in BUR?

> Read More:Avelo Airlines Retreats From Burbank, Abandons West Coast Operations

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