Low-cost U.S. airline Breeze Airways raises $ 200 million in new funding

The parent company of new low-cost U.S. airline Breeze Airways said on Wednesday it has closed a $ 200 million Series B funding round led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and Knighthead Capital Management.

Breeze Aviation Group previously raised over $ 100 million and began flights at the end of May. Breeze now serves 16 US cities and 39 routes. The company said it would use the funding to expand its business. Breeze chief executive David Neeleman said on Wednesday the carrier had carried more than 100,000 passengers since launching operations.

Breeze focuses on flights between small US cities that have little or no direct service from the larger carriers. Breeze serves cities like Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; New Orleans, Norfolk, Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky; Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hartford, Connecticut and Akron, Ohio.