Breeze Airways is strengthening its relationship with Florida. The startup low-cost airline will add Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) near Fort Myers as its newest base of operations later this year.
The Provo, Utah-based low-cost airline will make Fort Myers its ninth base of operations effective Oct. 1, the company said Tuesday. The announcement comes just days after the airline opened another Florida base at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
As part of the move, the airline will base aircraft at RSW overnight – three jets from the start – and become a crew base for both pilots and flight attendants.
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Ninth operating base
Launching in 2022, Breeze has had a strong focus on Fort Myers recently.
The company said Tuesday that in the fourth quarter of 2023, it doubled its space at the airport compared to the previous year.
It had a strong schedule this past winter, as Cirium pointed out. It includes nonstop flights to many of the airline’s other operations (especially on the East Coast) and several smaller cities, such as Syracuse, New York; Akron, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky.
Including seasonal and year-round destinations, Breeze serves 19 destinations from Fort Myers. It also plans to add five more routes from there in the coming months.
Here is a complete list of Breeze operating bases, including Fort Myers.
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| Airport | City |
|---|---|
| Bradley International Airport (BDL) | Hartford |
| Charleston International Airport (CHS) | Charleston, South Carolina |
| Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) | New Orleans |
| Norfolk International Airport (ORF) | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Orlando |
| Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) | Provo, Utah |
| Rhode Island TF Green International Airport (PVD) | Providence |
| Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | Fort Myers |
| Tampa International Airport (TPA) | Tampa |
Don’t shy away from Florida
Interestingly, focusing on Fort Myers will give Breeze three bases of operations in Florida. This is a notable move at a time when some airlines has reduced the Sunshine State’s priority – and Orlando in particular – amid falling ticket prices and the challenge of flying profitably to long-established leisure destinations.
Border Airlines And Spirit Airlines both have embarked on major network overhauls in recent months in search of more profitable flights. Frontier, for one, has shifted significant traffic out of state since the beginning of the year.
Among Breeze’s peers, Frontier will increase scheduled domestic seats to Florida by just 1.5% this summer after a 24% increase last summer. Spirit will grow just 2.7% in June, July and August after 12% growth a year earlier.
Service provider startup Avelo (launching in 2021) will drop Its capacity to Florida was 41% this summer.
Breeze, on the other hand, will grow about 49% this summer.
First profitable month
Despite bucking Florida’s recent trends, in some ways the airline may be operating with a bit more confidence lately. On the same day it announced its Fort Myers plan, the company also revealed that it closed its first profitable month in March – less than two years after starting operations in 2022 under guidance from JetBlue founder David Neeleman.
Breeze President Tom Doxey said in a statement Monday: “Starting an airline is not for the faint of heart, but we remain true to our purpose: to bring millions of travelers in The market has not been interested in accessing effective and affordable air travel.
Breeze also recently revealed plans for its first co-brand. credit cards and loyalty programs. Nationwide, the airline’s seasonal and year-round network currently includes 56 cities and 170 routes.
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