Budget airline turf war: Breeze adds 10 routes to New Haven, Avelo's biggest stronghold
There's a budget airline turf war heating up in Connecticut between the two newest U.S. airlines.
For months, low-cost airline Avelo Airlines has staked significant East Coast growth plans around Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN), which until recently, did not have commercial service.
But Avelo is about to get company in New Haven — and in a big way.
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Fellow startup carrier Breeze Airways will launch New Haven service in December, with plans to operate 10 routes from the southern Connecticut airport by February — including more than a half dozen routes on which it will go directly head-to-head with Avelo.
The two carriers will compete on a handful of routes to Florida as well as other Southeast destinations like Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina.
Breeze also announced plans to significantly expand its presence at Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford over the coming months, where the two carriers already compete head-to-head. The plans, Breeze noted, include future international service.
Avelo announces additional New Haven service, too
For its part, Avelo isn't ceding to the pressure. The Houston-based ultra-low-cost carrier announced Tuesday it will launch a new nonstop flight to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) in November — its 27th destination from New Haven.
The route will launch Nov. 14 with two weekly round trips on Thursdays and Sundays.
Plus, the carrier said Tuesday it will add two additional New Haven nonstop flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, beginning Nov. 8, and expand the number of Boeing 737-800 jets it operates out of its largest base.
"Avelo is proud to be Connecticut's Airline and continue growth in New Haven," Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement Tuesday.
Breeze's new routes
Here's the full rundown of Breeze's new nonstop routes from New Haven. The routes phase in from December through February.
| Route | Launches | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
HVN to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | Dec. 10 | Five times weekly |
HVN to Orlando International Airport (MCO) | Dec. 11 | Five times weekly |
HVN to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | Dec. 11 | Five times weekly |
HVN to Vero Beach Airport (VRB) | Dec. 13 | Twice weekly |
HVN to Charleston International Airport (CHS) | Feb. 6 | Four times weekly |
HVN to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) | Feb. 6 | Twice weekly |
HVN to Norfolk International Airport (ORF) | Feb. 6 | Twice weekly |
HVN to Richmond International Airport (RIC) | Feb. 6 | Twice weekly |
HVN to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) | Feb. 7 | Twice weekly |
HVN to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) | Feb. 7 | Twice weekly |
Breeze's Northeast growth
Breeze's major New Haven expansion comes just days after the carrier seemed to close in on some of Avelo's territories, taking on the carrier on a handful of additional routes to New England, most notably Hartford.
These 10 new routes are also just the latest Northeast expansion for the Utah-based airline — with New Haven its eighth New England destination and 64th city nationwide.
"From day one, our playbook has included significant growth across the Northeast region of the U.S. due to the high population density and limited nonstop travel options," Breeze Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.
Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...
In addition to its significant growth planned in Hartford, Breeze is planning to dramatically increase its Providence footprint, the carrier shared earlier this year, including international service.
The airline is in the "final stages" of securing certification to begin flying internationally, Breeze said Tuesday, with hopes to sell tickets on international flights by the end of the year.
A win for New Haven
Ultimately, as these two airlines seemingly battle for supremacy in New Haven, it's travelers in the region that come out ahead.
Just a couple of years ago, the airport had limited commercial service — at one point losing it altogether. Now, with more than two dozen destinations after Avelo's arrival, it will soon get additional nonstops and weekly frequencies with the arrival of a second carrier in Breeze.
It's also worth noting that New England more broadly has been a key focus for several U.S. airlines of late. On top of Avelo and Breeze expanding in Connecticut (and Breeze's focus on Providence), JetBlue has doubled down on the region as part of its recent network realignment — with a particular focus on routes from the Northeast to Florida and San Juan, as well.
Tweed New Haven is around 75 miles from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), about 80 miles from midtown Manhattan, and just 55 miles from Bradley in Hartford.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.