Breeze Airways to open base in Hartford, setting up Connecticut as low-cost battleground
The Constitution State is becoming a competitive market for the nation's newest ultra-low-cost carriers.
Breeze Airways on Thursday announced it would open a new base at Hartford's Bradley Airport (BDL), which will include eight yet-to-be-announced destinations on top of the four Breeze already flies from there. Breeze's move comes a day after Avelo Airlines announced it was launching service to four new destinations from its base at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), where it's now selling tickets on 10 nonstop routes.
Bradley is 56 miles north of Tweed-New Haven by car. The airports are linked by Interstate 91, a key transportation corridor through a relatively densely populated area with residents that would find both airports convenient. Therefore, Breeze's move can be seen as competitive to Avelo's.
Breeze has served Bradley since its first day of operations in May of 2021, and currently serves four destinations from the airport: Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), Columbus, Ohio (CMH), Norfolk, Virginia (ORF) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PIT). Its new Airbus A220 will serve all four of its current Bradley routes starting in June. The Utah-headquartered airline said that it would announce its eight new destinations from Hartford in early March.
Avelo on Wednesday announced that it too will serve Charleston from its Connecticut base. It currently serves six cities in Florida and, in addition to Charleston, will soon add Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR), Savannah, Georgia (SAV), and Nashville (BNA).
In announcing Breeze's new base, CEO and founder David Neeleman played up his airline's connection to the state.
"As a long-time Connecticut resident, it's personally really exciting for me to announce today with Governor [Ned] Lamont that Hartford's Bradley International Airport is becoming Breeze's fifth base of operations," he said in a statement. "We also can't wait to share the news on all the new destinations coming from Hartford in just a matter of weeks."
More: Avelo Airlines adds 4 new cities, will now fly 10 routes from East Coast base
Breeze's move will create over 200 jobs, the carrier said. It will earn a nearly $1.3 million grant in arrears from Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development that is contingent on the airline creating and retaining 212 full-time jobs.
In addition to service from Breeze, Hartford is also served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. Avelo is the only carrier at Tweed-New Haven, which is undergoing a terminal expansion project. The airport was formerly served by American, which discontinued service there during the pandemic.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees