Breeze Airways

In the world of aviation, agility isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must. Just ask Travis Yost, Vice President of Integrated Operation Command Center & Operations Analysis at Breeze Airways. As an industry veteran with a passion for niche offerings, Travis joined Breeze with a clear mission: to drive meaningful growth in a post-COVID landscape where airline reliability, safety, and guest happiness reign supreme.

Breeze Airways isn’t your average low-cost carrier. It offers a broad, diverse network that rivals the legacy airlines, all while maintaining the agility of a startup and keeping airline operating costs under control. Their previous flight tracking system provider had two major strikes against it. First, reliability issues: In an industry where every second counts, system outages are more than just an inconvenience. As Travis puts it, “When you work in one of the most regulated industries in the U.S., persistent flight tracking outages are colossally damaging to the health and integrity of the airline.” Data fragmentation was another pain point, as the old system had Breeze’s team toggling between multiple screens, hunting for critical data.

With a significant chunk of Breeze’s fall operations revolving around Florida markets, they faced a formidable challenge in 2024 — with not one, but two major hurricanes. As the second, Hurricane Milton, inched closer to landfall, the Breeze team was glued to their screens, watching The Weather Company’s forecasts with hawk-like precision. This wasn’t just weather watching — it was strategic airline operations management at its finest — saving an impressive 45 flights which they used to evacuate team members, their families, and guests from high-risk areas. Travis added, “I really believe every flight matters. We did everything we could to safely operate.” He couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the partnership:

Since Breeze Airways adopted the Fusion flight tracking solution, there’s been no shortage of benefits. For example, the dispatch team was able to restart operations in Tampa and Ft. Myers the moment the airports reopened, unlike their competitors. “This was one of the proudest moments of my career,” Travis beams. “Because of our confidence in what The Weather Company provides to us, we made a huge difference that day. Just because it’s a massive hurricane doesn’t mean we can’t do everything we can to safely operate for our guests,” highlighting Breeze’s commitment to guest service.

Fusion gives their flight dispatchers insight into the current position and flight paths of all aircraft in near real-time, overlaid with live global weather data and powered by advanced flight tracking tools. They’re able to gain a centralized data visualization, consolidate critical information, and eliminate the need for multiple screens.

The Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) tool is also a significant differentiator from previous solutions, crucial for managing congested airspaces like Florida, New York, and major West Coast hubs. Its enhanced visibility into current and future (4-6 hours) Traffic Management Initiatives (TMIs) has led to improved crew resource management, reducing fatigue and increasing productivity. As Travis states, “Providing more operational efficient decision-making by the dispatch team, and in turn, proactive and timely communication about potential delays, leads to more satisfied guests.”

Optimism, innovation on the horizon

Breeze Airways is enthusiastic about the timing of their partnership with The Weather Company. “Being at the forefront of implementing new solutions gives Breeze a competitive edge. Confidence in the current product’s performance sets a strong foundation for future developments, mutual growth, and a positive feedback loop of exceeding expectations,” Travis expresses. His team has a profound appreciation for the partnership, viewing it as a cornerstone for Breeze Airways’ continued success and ability to deliver exceptional experiences to their guests, regardless of what the next operational challenge may be.