Breeze beefs up presence in Florida and New York with new winter route
Breeze Airways is adding a new route from Long Island, New York.
The low-cost carrier plans to fly a twice-weekly, seasonal route from Islip's Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) to its new and fast-growing base at Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB) in Florida. Service from ISP — about 50 miles east of New York City — will start Dec. 21 and operate through April 28, 2024.
Vero Beach is one of Breeze’s newer destinations and an unconventional one that fits the carrier's strategy of focusing on airports with limited service.
Sitting on Florida’s central Atlantic coast, Vero Beach is not a typical gateway for flyers to Florida. The airport had no commercial service at all when Breeze began flying there earlier this year, but the carrier appears to see potential in the airport. After all, it's located between two of the state’s most popular draws: Orlando is about 100 miles to the northwest, and the coastline that stretches from Palm Beach to Miami is about 100 miles to the south.
Breeze launched its Vero Beach service in February, with flights from New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN) — about 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan — and Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, Connecticut. Flights from Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) in Providence begin Nov. 2 — giving Breeze a total of four nonstop destinations from Vero Beach.
The addition of the ISP-to-VRB route comes about two weeks after the carrier announced another expansion that will give Breeze its first destination in Illinois. Those flights — from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) in the state capital of Springfield — begin in December with nonstop service to Orlando and Tampa.
Now, with its latest news, Breeze continues its buildup in Florida.
“Vero Beach has been a huge success since we started service in February,” David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Breeze, said in a statement. “And our Guests have been very vocal about adding the service from Islip too."
Report from the inaugural flight: What Breeze Airways, the new airline by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, brings to the skies
Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue and Azul Brazilian Airlines, launched Breeze in 2021 with a business model similar to Allegiant Air and Avelo Airlines. Breeze focuses on flying nonstop routes between cities that would normally require a connection when flying on bigger rivals.
As Breeze has grown its network domestically during the past two years, Neeleman recently said at the Skift Global Forum in New York City that the carrier is eyeing an international expansion, potentially starting with destinations in Mexico or the Caribbean.
Breeze plans to operate the ISP-to-VRB route with Airbus A220-300 jets — which have a 2-2 configuration and feature recliner-style seats in the carrier's "Ascent" cabin.
The new Florida service was welcomed in Long Island, as ISP has seen flights decline in the past decade.
A new look: Breeze has a new, more economical Airbus A220 configuration
VRB will become the sixth destination from ISP, and the new route marks the first time the Long Island airport will have commercial air service to a Florida beach city.
Islip town supervisor Angie Carpenter said the new route will make it easier for Long Island residents to visit Florida year-round.
"Long Islanders love visiting Florida year-round and especially in the winter," she said in a statement. "These new non-stop flights to Vero Beach will tempt travelers who want to take an easy, hassle-free vacation."
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.