February 18th, 2022 – Breeze Airways’ first flight to Charleston, SC from Long Island MacArthur Airport took off today, just a day after the airline’s inaugural flight from Islip to Norfolk, VA. Beginning May 19th, the airline also will offer one-stop “BreezeThru” flights from ISP to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a brief stop in Charleston, but no change of planes. Together with JetBlue, Breeze Airways marks the 5th airline founded by its Chairman and CEO, David Neeleman.
“Today, Long Island MacArthur becomes our 17th airport, and our first airport in the state of New York, and it’s great to be back,” said Breeze Chairman and CEO, David Neeleman. “Breeze is bringing ‘Seriously Nice’ flights and fares to New York with its first flights to Charleston and Norfolk, and we look forward to adding more routes once these are as successful as we expect them to be,” he said.
“The nearly 3 million people living in Nassau and Suffolk counties consider MacArthur Airport their hometown airport. They live here, they work here, their families are here and they love to travel. They don’t like the hassle of crowds or traffic at larger airports, and this is why Breeze Airways is such a good fit for Long Island,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “We also share Breeze’s enthusiastic and positive business outlook and commitment to providing customers with a ‘Seriously Nice’ travel experience,” added Carpenter.
Neeleman, entrepreneur and founder of 5 commercial air carriers, announced the creation of his newest airline, eventually named Breeze Airways, in June 2018. Breeze Airways immediately became the most highly anticipated US airline startup in 20 years. Breeze received its air carrier certification from the US Department of Transportation on May 14, 2021, having conducted proving runs and other certification requirements from an operational base at Long Island MacArthur Airport. Breeze began commercial operations May 27, 2021.
Breeze will fly 108-seat Embraer 190 aircraft, and has also taken delivery of new Airbus 220 aircraft with a total of 80 to rollout. The A220s will offer first-class seating Breeze calls the “Nicest” product. Breeze is offering four weekly round-trip flights serving Islip to Norfolk, VA. The first Norfolk flight departed Long Island MacArthur Airport yesterday, with flights on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. Breeze will fly three weekly round-trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Beginning May 5, Breeze will increase the number of weekly flights to Charleston to four with a weekly Thursday trip. Fares will start at $39 one-way.
Breeze will fly 108-seat Embraer 190 aircraft, and has also taken delivery of new Airbus 220 aircraft with a total of 80 to rollout. The A220s will offer first-class seating Breeze calls the “Nicest” product. Breeze is offering four weekly round-trip flights serving Islip to Norfolk, VA. The first Norfolk flight departed Long Island MacArthur Airport yesterday, with flights on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. Breeze will fly three weekly round-trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Beginning May 5, Breeze will increase the number of weekly flights to Charleston to four with a weekly Thursday trip. Fares will start at $39 one-way.
“Long Island MacArthur Airport is helping lead this region into a time of greater economic prosperity. As part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure package, I secured over $21.5 million for MacArthur Airport,” said US Senator Chuck Schumer. “Breeze Airways will increase convenient travel options for Long Islanders, and I congratulate Supervisor Angie Carpenter, Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken and her team, County Executive Steve Bellone, Breeze Airways, and my friend David Neeleman, for bringing new service to and from MacArthur. This is an important development for Islip, Suffolk County, and all of Long Island,” he added.
“As I’ve said before, you cannot have a great region like Long Island, without having a great regional airport, and the continued expansion of McArthur makes that possible,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “Not only will the addition of Breeze Airways help Long Islanders who are in need of a vacation conveniently save time and money, but it will also generate more business and bring more travelers right here to Suffolk County. I am thrilled to welcome CEO David Neeleman and Breeze Airways to the Town of Islip.”
“MacArthur Airport is uniquely situated in the largest metro market in the country, and just 50 miles from New York City with a Long Island Rail Road station adjacent to the airfield,” said Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken. “Breeze’s concept of getting leisure travelers to their destination twice as fast and for half the money means a lot of people will get to have a much-needed ‘Nice’ vacation right from their hometown airport to beautiful places like Charleston and Norfolk,” she added.
“MacArthur Airport is a source of opportunity and job creation for Suffolk County, and we are excited to welcome Breeze Airways to Long Island and David Neeleman back to New York,” said Mitch Pally, CEO, Long Island Builders Institute and Chairman, Long Island MacArthur Airport Advisory Board. “It reveals a lot about the reputation and hard work of MacArthur Airport that we’re here today, and we are thrilled to welcome Breeze Airways to Long Island,” he added.
“The determination and innovation of Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken shines light on why David Neeleman is returning to New York aviation via Long Island,” said Kevin Law, NYS Economic Development LI Region co-chair.
"HIA-LI will be working closely with Long Island MacArthur Airport to generate additional interest in existing and future air service, and to promote that service widely in the business community,” said Joe Campolo, HIA-LI Past Board Chairperson and Managing Partner at Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP. “There is a great deal of enthusiasm and support in the Long Island business community for MacArthur Airport. We intend to harness that. People want more flights, more destinations and they know that the airport is a major economic generator for our region,” he said.
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