Feb. 17—The recently launched Breeze Airways announced Thursday that it will establish at Bradley International Airport its fifth base of operations, with plans to create more than 200 jobs in Connecticut.
Breeze, in an announcement with Gov. Ned Lamont, also said it will add eight new nonstop destinations at the Windsor Locks airport, bringing the total number of destinations the airline serves from the airport to 12.
Breeze did not immediately say how many aircraft it would house at Bradley as part of the operations hub and the airline did not give a breakdown of the number of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics or other employees the base would employ.
The announcement also did not include a list of the eight new destinations, but Breeze said it will do so in the next few weeks. Nationally, by the end of February, the airline said it will provide service between 18 cities and 14 states.
Connecticut's aviation industry is also seeing significant growth elsewhere. On Wednesday, Avelo Airlines said that it will expand its nonstop service to and from Tweed New Haven Regional Airport to 10 routes as of May 5.
"As a longtime Connecticut resident, it's personally really exciting for me to announce today with Gov. Lamont that Hartford's Bradley International Airport is becoming Breeze's fifth base of operations," Breeze founder and CEO David Neeleman said in a written release. "We also can't wait to share the news of all the eight new destinations coming from BDL in just a matter of weeks."
When Breeze first took flight on May 27, 2021, Bradley was one of three locations the airline served from day one.
"Over the last few years, Bradley has gained a national reputation as one of the best operated and most convenient airports in the country, and airlines are taking note as they increase their service and add more routes from Connecticut's largest airport," Lamont said in the release. "Bradley is a key economic driver for our state, and the more airlines and destinations that we can add from the airport, the more attractive Connecticut becomes to companies that are seeking to grow their own operations. I am excited that Breeze has committed to establishing a base of operations at Bradley, and I look forward to their continued growth here."
The four nonstop destinations that Breeze currently serves from Bradley include Charleston, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Norfolk, Va.; and Pittsburgh.
The first of Breeze's 80 brand-new Airbus A220s will operate on all four routes starting in June. Each of the four existing routes will add more service — most notably the Charleston route, which will operate daily this summer.
"Our vision to transform Bradley International Airport and drive continued growth has reached a significant milestone today," said Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which runs Bradley. "We are honored to serve as Breeze's fifth base and look forward to our expanded partnership."
The state Department of Economic and Community Development is supporting the project by providing a grant "in arrears" of up to $1,262,000 which is contingent on Breeze creating and retaining 212 full-time jobs.
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