American low-cost carrier Breeze Airways
will double down on

Southwest Florida International Airport
(RSW) by adding it as another operating base in the airline network. The decision will create dozens of jobs and see at least 26 nonstop destinations from the Floridian airport.

Fully committed to Southwest Florida

By basing aircraft at the airport, aircraft will remain there overnight before commencing operations throughout the day. In-flight crews, pilots
, and ground staff will need to be recruited, which is expected to be around 100 people, and these people will likely reside in Fort Meyers. Brian McCormick, Breeze’s director of airport properties and facilities, explained the expansion to Gulf Shore News and reiterated:

“We are committed to this area for future growth. It’s going to be an important base for us. We’re here for a long, bright future in Fort Myers. We love the area, and we’re going to continue to grow. More exciting new destinations to come.”

Breeze Airways plane taxiing

Photo: Breeze Airways

For Breeze, eight of 11 new destinations already expected to take off from RSW, such as

Lansing
Michigan, which took off on October 3, will begin this October. This is the first route of its kind in the airport and airline’s recent history. During the base announcement at RSW, McCormick also celebrated the commencement of its new Michigan route:

“Flying into [Capital Region International Airport] in Michigan, Michiganders will have a nonstop way to go from Lansing down to the beautiful area of Southwest Florida.”

Many more direct routes are set to commence

Breeze has no intentions of slowing down. It plans to commence direct flights this month to Long Island-Islip, Stewart/Newburgh, Manchester, Portsmouth, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Burlington, and Bangor, all in America’s Northeast.

Direct services to North Haven will commence on December 10, with South Bend and Wilmington set to commence in February next year. Prices for its latest flights start between $65 and $79 one-way.

Breeze Airways A220 at RIC

Fort Meyers is a perfect niche for the young airline, stressed McCormick, who identified that the airline is keen to enter underserved or abandoned markets. Travel demand to Southwest Florida is rising, and the airline has taken the opportunity to identify unique routes. In the Breeze network, 90% of its operations have no competition, which is critical to the carrier’s success.

Breeze’s news of its latest operating base in Southwest Florida will join the growing list of operating bases for the airline, which currently includes:

  • Charleston
  • Hartford
  • New Orleans
  • Norfolk
  • Orlando
  • Providence
  • Provo
  • Tampa
  • Vero Beach

Strong start since 2021

The airline was founded by the Chief Executive Officer David Neeleman
, a Brazilian American who is well-known in the aviation industry. His knowledge and investments have been involved in such other airlines as Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue Airways
, and Azul Brazilian Airlines.

Breeze Airways Airbus A220

Photo: christopheronglv | Shutterstock

In the short but successful history of Breeze, Neeleman has committed to buying a new one each month for the next five years.

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