It sounds to me more like they will just be flying around so they can start the type rating soon. If someone needs the full 500 hours, Breeze could pay perhaps $100 an hour and just send them on cross country every day. If those hours
were flown 6-8 hours a day in their Florida or Alabama locations (as mentioned in the link above), they’ll have a pilot with an ATP and starting the type rating in a few months. I’m sure that $50,000 will come with strings attached in terms of commitment to the company, of course. Quite a clever move, as that level of investment is nothing compared to the bonuses the regionals are throwing around at the moment - and they’ve got a pilot from the approaching ATP minima pool, instead of their competitors getting him or her.
This also shows how fickle the industry and pilot requirements are though. It was not long ago you had to be what they called Captain Qualified First Officer - type rated with all the experience and hours to be Captain, to work and be paid as First Officer.
Anyway, back to the aspiring pilot - this is an example of how hot the market is here in the US and how airlines are competing to get you qualified and employed.