Breeze Announces Flights From Long Island To Vero Beach

Breeze Airways, the low-cost carrier with innovative routes, has announced a new service connecting New York State’s Long Island Macarthur Airport (ISP) with Florida’s Vero Beach Airport (VRB). For Breeze Airways, flying this route on Thursdays and Sundays is partially in response to customer demand.

Responding to customer demand

As David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ Founder and CEO, shared,

“Vero Beach has been a huge success since we started service in February,. And our Guests have been very vocal about adding the service from Islip too. ISP leadership’s own data also demonstrated the strength of this market. Now Long Islanders can grab a seriously comfortable, seriously affordable, and seriously nice winter Florida getaway to one of Florida’s best-kept secrets.”

Indeed, Vero Beach is a quiet mid-Florida getaway famous for its beaches and Historic Dodgertown, the latter of which is a baseball training camp. There is also Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and 14 golf clubs.

Photo: Town of Islip, New York

Meanwhile, the former Islip Airport, now named Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP), is near New York City. Shuttle buses and the Long Island Railroad’s Ronkonkoma L.I. MacArthur Airport Station connect ISP with the big city. The surrounding community is excited to have the new route, as Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter shared,

“These new non-stop flights to Vero Beach will tempt travelers who want to take an easy, hassle-free vacation. The Treasure Coast is a hidden gem perfect for soaking up sunshine, playing golf, enjoying nature, and just relaxing. We also welcome visitors from Vero Beach to Long Island for some peaceful ‘sweater weather,’ holiday shopping in charmingly decorated downtowns, and delightful winter dining.”

Indeed, it’s a connection between two different climates almost 1,000 miles apart.

About Breeze Airways’ new ISP-VRB route

The 997-mile direct route connects two regional airports, something that Breeze is well known for having a firm focus on. The route will be served by Breeze’s Airbus A220—300 aircraft with three seating classes and a quieter experience for both those inside the cabin and in fenceline communities to airports.

Graphic: GCMap.com

The Airbus A220s, built out of Airbus’ Mobile, Alabama facility, have been a boon for Airbus and Breeze Airways. The A220s are modern, right-sized aircraft for the Breeze Airways’ business model of identifying niche potential routes and making those routes a reality. Connecting flights can translate into several hours or more at a secondary destination, requiring supplemental expenses like beverages and food, so providing direct flights from airports near where people live, and at an affordable price too, has proven to be a success.

Photo: Town of Islip

Long Island MacArthur Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken also shared some thoughts how the airport was able to work with Breeze Airways on this route,

“It’s exciting to work with Breeze Airways on another new destination. We listen to our airline partners and believe in partnerships with them, especially in highlighting market intelligence that airlines otherwise would not have access to. We also are always listening to our customers and combining their wish list with what the airlines tell us, and then doing the work necessary to bring new destinations and travel choices for Long Island.”

The ISP-VRB route is coupled with other routes out of Long Island MacArthur Airport. The other routes are nonstop year-round service to Charleston, SC, and Norfolk, VA; seasonal service to Portland, ME; Raleigh-Durham, NC; and Richmond, VA; and one-stop/no plane change BreezeThru service to New Orleans, LA.

Do you want to fly this route? Please share in the comments.