Breeze Airways eyes more Vero Beach flights, destinations after successful launch here

Editor's note: This story has been updated from its original version.

VERO BEACH — After only about three months of flying here, Breeze Airways already is looking to expand.

Breeze, a budget airline headquartered in Utah, began flying here Feb. 2, filling the gap in passenger service left by Elite Airways, which had flown here since 2015. But Elite abruptly canceled all its flights last year and hasn't said when it will return. Meanwhile, the popularity of Breeze's service has exceeded expectations, according to Todd Scher, Vero Beach Regional Airport director, and even more flights likely are on the way.

"We didn't know what to expect," Scher said. "I was pretty sure that the routes would be popular, but I didn't know they'd be so popular so quickly."

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About 11,000 passengers have flown Breeze into and out of Vero Beach since its service began, Scher told the Airport Commission Friday. That's split evenly between departures and arrivals, he said.

By comparison, in 2018 — one of the airport's best years for passenger service — Elite had about 10,000 departing passengers for the full year, Scher told TCPalm.

"So Breeze has done about half of the highest total that Elite did, and they've done it in about two months," he said.

Whether Breeze's popularity holds remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: The airline already is looking to add flights here, Breeze officials confirmed.

More flights certain; new destinations possible

Breeze flies up to five times a week from Vero Beach to Westchester County, New York; Hartford, Connecticut; and Norfolk, Virginia. Between Labor Day and mid-November, it will begin daily flights from Vero Beach to Hartford and Westchester County, the airline confirmed to TCPalm.

Service from Vero to Norfolk ends in September but could return next year, but seasonal Westchester-Norfolk service will return, said Breeze spokesperson Gareth Edmondson-Jones.

Edmondson-Jones did not say whether Breeze would add a destination this year, but Scher said the airline has hinted it might.

"They have not hinted as to where it might be," Scher said. "What I hear from people around town when I talk to them is that they would really love a flight to Islip [New York]."

Breeze already flies from Islip to Sarasota; it also flies as far north as Portland, Maine, and as far west as San Francisco.

How's reception so far?

Public reception to Breeze's flights has been positive, according to Scher. An estimated 90% of the airline's flights have operated within 20-30 minutes of schedule, he told the Airport Commission, but he did not have specific numbers. On average, the flights are at about 89% capacity, he said.

Still, Scher conceded, the airport's passenger facilities have remained "quaint." Baggage claim likely will remain outside underneath tents, and arriving passengers still must exit through CJ Cannon's restaurant. It can feel clunky at times, he admitted, but so far, it's worked.

"Everybody loves it right now," he said. "But we'll see how much they love it in August and September, where it's really, really hot, and there's thunderstorms all around."

The airport has secured state funding to convert CJ Cannon's banquet hall into a dedicated passenger exit, a project that could be done within two years, he said. The airport also may consider adding a pavilion for baggage claim, depending on how well outdoor baggage claim functions this summer.

Elite remains 'radio silent'

Elite, meanwhile, has remained "radio silent" on when, or if, it will resume service here, Scher told the Airport Commission.

Aside from a banner on Elite's website saying it's "announcing new service soon," airport officials have not gotten official word on its return, he said. Elite Airways still is listed as "inactive" in state business filings as of Sept. 23, records show.

Thomas Weber is TCPalm's Indian River County government watchdog reporter. You can reach him at thomas.weber@tcpalm.com or 813-545-9113. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach Regional Airport satisfied with Breeze service so far