Breeze asks FAA to restrict resale of JetBlue's LaGuardia slots

Breeze Airways wants US regulators to place conditions on JetBlue Airways' plan to buy 22 take-off and landing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport. In comments filed with the FAA on 18 September, Breeze argued the slots should stay with a low-cost operator if JetBlue sells them later.

JetBlue won the slots at a July auction for $58.5 million. They were previously held by Spirit Airlines, which has ceased operations. The transfer of operating rights needs an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration, which gave the deal tentative approval in August and opened a public comment period.

Breeze said that without restrictions it would probably never obtain slots at the capacity-constrained airport. The airline does not fly from LaGuardia. Under the current terms, JetBlue could hand the slots to another carrier after April 2028.

The Association of Value Airlines backed Breeze, telling the FAA that concentrating scarce airport capacity among the largest established carriers costs passengers choice and the competitive pressure that keeps fares down. Its members include Breeze, Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines and Frontier Airlines.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which had opposed the sale, said the slots carry no automatic access to terminals or other airport infrastructure, and it also urged regulators to add conditions. The agency called service at LaGuardia a duopoly, pointing to Delta Air Lines' 42% share of passenger traffic and American Airlines' 25%. It said limited competition curbs consumer choice and pushes prices higher.

JetBlue's share of passengers at the airport is 3.4%.