Breeze Airways adds a new city as part of broader 4-route expansion

Breeze Airways is expanding again, announcing its fourth new destination in less than a month.

This time the carrier’s new city is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which becomes the 35th dot on Breeze’s route map.

Service begins Feb. 16, when the airline launches nonstop service to Hartford, Connecticut (BDL), and New Orleans (MSY). A day later, Breeze will make Providence (PVD) its third destination from RDU.

Last month, Breeze announced plans to add flights to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Florida’s Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB). And just last week Breeze announced John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter

At RDU, news of Breeze’s expansion comes just five days after Avelo – the nation’s other upstart budget carrier – announced it would do the same. Avelo’s first RDU flights will begin in early February, about two weeks ahead of Breeze’s debut.

The airlines will not directly compete on any of the routes, though Breeze’s service to Hartford closely overlaps with Avelo’s nonstop service to New Haven. The Connecticut airports are about 55 miles apart.

Elsewhere, Southwest offers seasonal nonstop service between RDU and New Orleans during its winter schedule, but its weekend-only nonstop is not currently scheduled to fly on the same day as Breeze.

Beyond RDU, Breeze will add nonstop service between Pittsburgh (PIT) and New Orleans. It also will resume nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Hartford on Feb. 3.

• Growing Avelo adds Raleigh-Durham base, unveils 6 new Florida routes
• Breeze Airways adds 2 new cities as part of 13-route expansion
• Best credit cards of 2022
• Breeze adds 100th route as it adds service from new airport in Southern California

Breeze said its new routes would allow it to capitalize on markets hungry for additional nonstop service.

“Breeze always looks for underserved routes where we can add nonstop flights, low fares and our brand of Seriously Nice service,” Breeze president Tom Doxey said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to announce service from Raleigh-Durham, our 35th city, to three of our bases in Hartford, New Orleans and Providence.”

Scroll down for details on Breeze’s newest flights.

Breeze’s new flights from Raleigh/Durham

• Hartford: Begins Feb. 16; two weekly flights (Thursday and Sunday).
• New Orleans: Begins Feb. 16; four weekly flights (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday).
• Providence: Begins Feb. 17; two weekly flights (Monday and Friday)

Breeze’s other new nonstop route

New Orleans-Pittsburgh

• Begins Feb. 3; two weekly flights (Monday and Friday)