"I think the biggest thing is they really need to be a good leader who will really take great care of our team members and our passengers, and they've got to be nice," Coleman said. MSP - Minneapolis St Paul Intl. Nice, new and nonstop. so yes their work force has negotiated rates based on the companies success. Once the industry recovers, I think breeze will close the gap. Getting in on the ground floor of a seniority-based company also has its perks. "If you are a full-time student, you've got a lot of responsibilities and if you are a full-time flight attendant, you've got a lot of responsibilities," Harteveldt said. Once a pilot is assigned to one aircraft, though, they're locked in for at least three years before a switch can be made. Breeze will have two types of aircraft flying its first slate of routes, the Embraer E190 and Embraer E195. "From the outset, Breeze is going to be confusing customers which, by the way, is not a nice thing to do.". Breeze chose the cities of Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia, and New Orleans as its four main bases, which all see existing service from many of the country's largest airlines. Breeze Airways is a new airline thats expected to launch in the US in early 2021. The Breeze pilots, once hired, will see the Neeleman is begging for a pilot union to quickly form on his new airline, whether he knows it or not. In-flight WiFi, for example, won't be offered on the aircraft. Smaller Embraer E190 and E195 fleet of aircraft are being used initially, with no more than 118 seats on the larger model, allowing Breeze to be more competitive on routes with traditionally low demand. The average pilot will make more than this. Get some help. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Sign up for notifications from Insider! And they likely will try to launch with no union, am I right? Your update has been received. "The 190 being the same type rating, yes, it's almost kind of a natural step.". Recruiters are also looking to see if a pilot is a match with the airline's values and for customer service-oriented and safety-minded individuals. Fly for less money and less stress. If you want to put yourself into a position to for extra pay then living in base is a more realistic choice. I felt fortunate. Must have 2,000 hours total time in large, Group II transport category, fixed-wing aircraft (turbojet aircraft of more than 41,000 lbs. All rights reserved. Being Seriously Nice is a part of our DNA at Breeze and we believe if we can focus on being the best part of someones day, we and our Guests will win. Its unfair pay but it is a fun job and these are weird times. Please use the form below to submit updates and corrections to the airline information found on this site. Lots of opinion injected here but believe me they do not have a shortage of applications. Ultra-low-cost airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines have gained negative reputations for customer service, despite efforts to remedy, and both Breeze and Avelo have worked to promote niceness and friendliness in response. Im sure theyd leap at the chance to earn USD given the depreciation of the R$. All applicants are required to have at least 1,500 total hours with 1,000 hours of experience flying fixed-wing turbine aircraft, regardless of whether applying for the Embraer or Airbus fleet. Those are the FA domiciles. It is irrelevant whether the union itself has anything to do with the action. They understand that our pursuit of Excellence is not a destination, but rather, a journey. Could happen. Edmondson-Jones responded by saying that the difference in the Embraer aircraft sizes and where the aircraft's doors are placed determined the legroom. Breeze Airways First Officer Minimum Qualifications Must be at least 23 years old at the time of hire Must have 1,500+ hours total time (not including simulator and/or Flight Engineer time) Must have a minimum of: o 750 hours of fixed wing time o 500 hours cross country o 250 hours PIC o 100 hours night o 75 hours instrument Pay increases by an average of 12% for each year of seniority. We pay the least to all our staff! Breeze plans to operate the program a bit differently by focusing on mentorship from experienced pilots to those still in training. But those seeking the typical pilot lifestyle of multi-day trips out on the road will find it on the Airbus fleet. I'm not sure anything this post really supports the hypothesis that they're underpaid. Maybe its just SPS. FO Adam absolutely nailed it. This article mentions and quotes minimum monthly guarantee, but fails to show the pay for picking up extra flying. 77% of job seekers rate their interview experience at Breeze Airways as positive. "One of our biggest pitches and approaches is: live when you fly and fly where you live," Coleman said. Fly for less money and less stress. No other large country trains and hires their airline pilots the way we do. It is difficult for commuting pilots to pick up open flying due to their availability and the extra travel time needed to pick up small increments of flying. Pilots will spend a good chunk of this time from home not flying, and instead waiting for work assignments to be assigned by their employers. It does sound like not much at the moment, but I think the idea behind it, that for a starting Airline and in the pandamic, to only offer 55h minium is understandable. Pilots can choose if they want to live in base or if they want to commute to their base. Position: MEC Chairman, Snack Basket Committee. Of course this wont last as the market rebounds, but the die will have been cast for what they think of their employees. It does sound like not much at the moment, but I think the idea behind it, that for a starting Airline and in the pandamic, to only offer 55h minium is understandable. Breeze Airways has begun hiring for 85 pilot positions as the airline prepares to launch this year. West coast bases are frequently more senior for most pilot employers. I'm a 'union guy' for sure. The first flights of Breeze Airways are just around the corner and the David Neeleman-founded startup is looking to bring on more pilots in advance of its long-awaited debut. Where to Live? "Breeze has basically outlined a list of ways where customers are going to think they're not a very nice airline," Harteveldt said. Breeze has started hiring pilots, and its making pay at some regional airlines look lucrative by comparison (and keep in mind pilots often work at regional airlines to gain experience, and eventually get a job at one of the major carriers). Our business address is: Commuters will often seek trips that begin late in a day or end early in a day to lessen the need to stay overnight in their domicile. The result may be poorer bookings than if the airline pushed back its launch since travelers are starting to book trips further and further out. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. At this point, offset the difference by instructing or other commercial needs. Some employers offer a set amount of hotel room availability, paid by the employer, to commuting pilots as part of their compensation. However, if there's a recovery in airlines and given there was a shortage of pilots before I'm not sure this pay scale is going to last full time. We will rely on you to act as the face of the Company by embracing Breezes Five Core Values Safety, Kindness, Integrity, Ingenuity, and Excellence. Work schedules begin and end at the domicile where a flight crew is based. This same thing happened in Brazil with Azul. They better start changing the pilot pay or pilots will start leaving to China and make real time money up there . "They want to work for the newest and the nicest airline out there with new shiny planes or gently used planes," Jan Coleman, Breeze's manager of pilot recruitment, told Insider. They can't profitably or even just realistically offer higher minimums than that at this point because they won't have the volume of flights. And in the interview say no thanks pay to low and walk out. maximum takeoff weight), Note: PIC is defined as Captain or Aircraft Commander of record, not simply the sole manipulator of the controls, Valid FCC Radiotelephone Operators Permit, Must have or be able to obtain a valid U.S. drivers license, Must have or be able to obtain a valid passport, Must be able to travel unrestricted to and from the United States, Must pass a DOT pre-employment drug test, Must have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, MyIDTravel (preferred), or list at the gate, Monthly Pay Guarantee for Line Holders: 70 hours, Monthly Pay Guarantee for Reserves: 70 hours. They paid $3.50 an hour. Bottom line: Supply and Demand principles are at play. But some of us want certain bases and better QOL more than to work at Delta, and we understand that if ends up being the next Jetblue it could be a great place to work if you get in near the beginning. I worked for the now defunct Bar Harbor Airlines in the 80s. This interactive map shows airline bases and hubs, and pilot domiciles across the US. 7. Our inflight leadership team are always available to support our team members. First year SkyWest pilots make more than Breeze pilots. Breeze Airways First Officer Minimum Qualifications Must be at least 23 years old at the time of hire Must have 1,500+ hours total time (not including simulator and/or Flight Engineer time) Must have a minimum of: o 750 hours of fixed wing time o 500 hours cross country o 250 hours PIC o 100 hours night o 75 hours instrument "I like the fact that we have a new budget airline that's entering the US that will inject fresh competition that will help compete with price and is hopefully going to provide very exciting jobs for a lot of people," Harteveldt said. Book your flights now! Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. "If you're a fully trained flight attendant, you're a fully trained flight attendant," Edmondson-Jones said. And the US would have PRETTY PLEASANT FRIENDLY SKIES again. Copyright 2005-2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Greg took a 5 year hiatus from flying and worked in software development and marketing. No one is forcing applicants to accept pay they don't like. For example, I recently wrote about how Breeze is only hiring flight attendants if they enroll full time in college, and live in company housing. The wont to have pilots on there books, but wont have at the beginnig a lot of flightsSo from a business point it makes sence to have more pilots who only fligh 55h instead of having less pilots with 75h. I suppose if there has ever been a time where airlines can get away with hiring pilots for cheap, this is it. Lets compare Breezes pilot pay to that of a couple of other airlines: Heres JetBlues Embraer 190 pilot pay scale: JetBlue Embraer 190 pilots get paid way more. The race to the bottom continues. My regional airline was a casualty of covid and Breeze seems like a great fit for someone like myself. The startup aspires to be a "nice" airline and pilots will need to act as brand ambassadors. anything less than market rate? Seems like they could be taking advantage of this particular moment in time, and the situation the industry is in. The article also fails to factor in per diem amounts and the tax advantage that goes with that. Domicile Choices At Legacy, Major, and Regional Airlines, Few careers have as much flexibility as pilots when it comes to choosing where to live. For most pilot employers there is a trend for east coast domiciles with high costs of living to be the most junior crew domiciles. Breeze Airways Pilots are responsible for ensuring safe and timely flight operations in accordance with all Company policies and Federal Aviation Regulations. Financial aid is only available in your own country. Printing a boarding pass will also incur a $3 fee and a $9 fee will apply if a Breeze agent assists with a change or cancellation. Must be at least 23 years old at the time of hire, Must have 1,500+ hours total time (not including simulator and/or Flight Engineer time), Current First-Class FAA Medical Certificate, Valid FCC Radiotelephone Operators Permit, Must have or be able to obtain a valid U.S. drivers license, Must have or be able to obtain a valid passport, Must be able to travel unrestricted to and from the United States, Must have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, High school diploma or equivalent educational achievement, FAA Unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with airplane multi-engine class rating, Must have a minimum of 3,000 hours fixed wing time. Where are the pay scales? "The primary concern I have about Breeze is the airports it's serving," Harteveldt said. 909 N. Sepulveda Blvd, 11th Floor Just one profile allows pilots to apply to multiple employers and to be contacted by employers searching for qualified candidates. Candidates give an average difficulty score of 2.6 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) for their job interview at Breeze Airways. "No airline is going to give up a micro point of market share to a competitor, whether it's an established airline or a startup, without a fight," Harteveldt said. Breeze Airways is the latest brainchild of JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman. If thats you, then there is a place for you at Breeze. Well your also comparing companies that have been in business for a substantial time period. Join our Seriously Nice team and help us take the simplicity of just being nice to new heights. "It's not something you can hang a brand on.". Not only are junior bases easier to hold a line of flying in but they can provide quicker opportunities to upgrade into larger airplane types or upgrading into a captain position. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. "Charge me $3 to print a boarding pass, charge me $50 to check a bag in with an agent. Around 4,400 pilots have already applied to fly for the airline with only around 85 spots available. I know the pay is low, it's a start-up, etc, etc, etc, I get it. anything less than market rate? Military pilots, however, only need 1,000 hours if that time was spent flying high-performance military aircraft. The Breeze growth story is extraordinary. Thanks. Pilots often avoid living in these areas to increase the spending power of their paychecks. Thank you. I know that Breeze is hiring for captain right seat flying, aka the pilot has captain qualifications, but will be flying as first officers until there is enough flying for them to be moved to the left seat. Its that simple. "The A220-300, in my opinion, is one of the best narrow-body airplanes that has been introduced because of the enormous utility it offers to its airline operators," Harteveldt said, noting that the airline should've waited to start flights with the A220 over the Embraer jets. I'm sure it's the same for retirement as well. Rebook or cancel up to 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure without penalty. Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether or not to commute: The flights available for commuting will have significant impact on a commuting pilots time spent away from home. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider "We want good pilots that are really good people," Solomon said. And those wanting to experience the life of an international jet-setting pilot will get to do so at Breeze, just not straight away. But the lack of consistency extends outside the aircraft. The founder of the airline is David Neeleman, the same guy behind JetBlue. Crash pads are an added expense for flight crew needing them. . By clicking the Send button, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies described therein, and you also consent to the collection, storage, and processing of your data in the United States where the level of data protection may be different from that in your country. The program, he says, could have unintended consequences like flight attendants that expedite an in-flight service so they can have time to study. It would be wise to not uproot families or even consider purchasing a home for a domicile unless that city is an operations hub. Upon arrival, you sat for 5 hours, then returned to LGA. While perhaps not quite as controversial, Breezes approach to hiring pilots is also raising some eyebrows, as flagged by @StringAndRuder and @AirlineFlyer. This is to cover training costs and to prevent extra training cycles from pilots jumping around between airplane types. NGPA Expo - February 9-10 in PSP Booth 525, Women in Aviation - February 23-25 in LGB - Booth 549, TPNx April 21-22 in MCO, Currently hiring E190/195 and A220 First Officers, E190/195 Captains, and Australian Pilots that hold or have previously held an E-3 visa, New hire classes every month for the E190/195 and A220, Scheduled passenger service on the E190/195 flying consists of day trips (no overnights) with limited flying on Tuesday and Wednesday, Charter business is very robust on the E190/195 Charter flights may operate any day of the week, A220 operates a traditional schedule 7 days per week, Significant growth and expansion planned over the next 5 years, Breeze flies to 30+ cities from coast to coast, Eight A220s delivered as of August 2022 - 73 more to be delivered and options for 40 more, Ejet fleet projected to grow to 30 by 2025, A220 fleet is projected to grow to nearly 60 by the end of 2025, A new training center opened in SLC with one E190/195 simulator and one A220 simulator, $200 million in funding was raised in August of 2021. The comments in here are so disheartening. This applies to ANY wildcat actions, including slowdown, work-to-rules, withdrawal of enthusiasm (WOE), sickouts, etc. Breeze Airways is Neeleman's fifth airline start-up, after JetBlue, Brazil's Azul, Canada's WestJet, and Utah-based Morris Air, which was later purchased by Southwest Airlines. It is irrelevant whether the union itself has anything to do with the action. I suppose they could be selling the dream of having high seniority at the airline as it grows, with hope of better pay in the future, but. Harteveldt says that there's nothing stopping a major player like American or Southwest Airlines from matching some of Breeze's routes or lowering fares to those cities in order to compete. There are several considerations when looking at potential domiciles. Yes, they are using and abusing us. You get what you pay for folks! 8 hours reserve gets 4 hours of pay $38 per hour. 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