BREEZE GETS OPERATING CERTIFICATE
Breeze Airways got its operating certificate from the Department of Transportation but its staffing model and pay scales prompted controversy before the first revenue flight. The airline, founded by David Neeleman, who also started JetBlue and WestJet, among others, prompted criticism when it announced it will hire flight attendants exclusively from students at a Utah university who will get their education, housing, and $1200 a month for providing “Seriously Nice” service to passengers. It’s also paying pilots less than industry norms. Breeze is using Embraer E195s to start service but will start receiving Airbus A220s in October.
$1000 LANDING FEE PROPOSED
A Massachusetts state senator has prompted debate over private aircraft paying what amounts to an environmental tax through landing fees. Adrian Cyr, who represents Cape Cod, which gets more than average private-aircraft traffic in the summer, proposed a bill, An Act to Mitigate the Climate Impact of Private and Corporate Air Travel, that would assess a $1000 landing fee on every landing in the state by aircraft other than airliners and public-service aircraft. There was immediate backlash from aviation groups and Cyr said he’d exempt light aircraft but wouldn’t abandon the idea entirely. He said his intent was to make corporate and private jet owners pay for the environmental impact of their flights. “We’re really looking at out-of-state-owned private jets and other private aircrafts, particularly large jets owned by a corporation or owned by a company,” said Cyr.
