Breeze Airways adds two, nonstop destinations at Bradley International; Avelo reduces flights for winter on three routes at Tweed-New Haven. Here’s how it shakes out.
Low-cost carrier Breeze Airways is adding two more nonstop destinations from Bradley International Airport this winter, the latest in a rapid expansion of service at the state’s largest commercial airport.
Meanwhile, low-cost rival Avelo Airlines said it is reducing the number of flights during the winter from Tweed-New Haven Airport, as it has seen a decline in future booking demand on some routes.
At Bradley, Breeze said Wednesday it is adding twice weekly flights to Phoenix, Ariz. and Vero Beach, Fla. that will launch in early February, bringing Breeze’s total number of active, nonstop destinations from Bradley to 11 since it inaugurated its first flights from the airport in 2021.
Wednesday’s announcement by Breeze also was accompanied by promotional fares for the new destinations that must be booked by Oct. 24 for travel by May 16. Fares include taxes and government fees, and flights may be subject to restrictions and blackout dates.
Service to Phoenix will be offered Thursday and Sunday, starting Feb. 9 with one-way promotional fares starting from $99 for standard, $179 for extra leg room and $199 for first class.
Flights to Vero Beach also will depart Thursday and Sunday and start Feb. 2. One-way promotional fares start from $79 for standard, $99 for extra leg room and $149 for first class.
The new, nonstop Breeze destinations are in addition to Norfolk, Va, Charleston, S.C., Jacksonville, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev., Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla., Nashville, Tenn. Richmond, Va., Savannah, Ga and Columbus, Ohio that are already offered from Bradley.
Breeze has temporarily suspended its nonstop service to Pittsburgh, Penn. and Akron/Canton, Ohio. The airline has not announced a date when those flights will resume, but Pittsburgh is expected to resume next summer, Breeze said.
In addition to the nonstop routes, Breeze also announced that it will be adding “one stop” service with no plane changing to Provo, Utah and San Bernardino, Calif. Provo starts Feb. 9 and San Bernardino on Feb. 16. Those flights also have promotional fares.
“Partnering with Breeze on their expansion has been transformative for Bradley International Airport,” said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees operations at Bradley. “Their national growth, ongoing innovation and expanding local network offer our passengers more opportunities to travel conveniently and affordably.”
At Tweed-New Haven, the reductions by Avelo will affect nonstop service to Nashville, Baltimore/Washington D.C and Raleigh-Durham, according to Avelo spokesman Jim Olson.
The Nashville route will be reduced from four flights a week to two between November 30 and Feb. 15. The Baltimore/Washington D.C. destination will be reduced from three flights a week to two between Nov. 30 and April 30. The Raleigh-Durham route will drop from three flights a week to two between Dec. 6 and Feb. 15.
In addition, Avelo said it is seasonally suspending its service to Chicago between Nov. 30 and early March. However, the airline said it will offer flights to Chicago over the peak holiday period between Dec. 19 and Jan. 4.
Avelo will mark its one-year anniversary at Tweed on Nov. 3. The airline has operated over 4,500 flights and carried over a half-million passengers.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
