Breeze Airways To Make Bradley Airport Its Fifth Operations Hub

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Utah-based Breeze Airways announced Thursday it will establish its fifth base of operations at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, creating more than 200 new jobs in the process.

The airline also plans to add eight new nonstop destinations, tripling the four it established upon launching on May 27, 2021. Breeze plans to announce the new destinations in the coming weeks.

Establishing Bradley as a base means the airline will permanently house aircraft at the airport; hire local pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics; and fly new routes. Nationally, by the end of February, the airline will provide service between 18 cities and 14 states.

Starting in June, the first of Breeze’s 80 brand-new Airbus A220s will operate on all four existing nonstop routes: Charleston, South Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Norfolk, Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Each will have more weekly frequencies added, most notably the Hartford-Charleston route, which will operate daily this summer.

In making the announcement, Gov. Ned Lamont said, "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. 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."

"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," airline founder and CEO David Neeleman said. "We also can’t wait to share the news of all the eight new destinations coming from BDL in just a matter of weeks."

Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon said, "Our vision to transform Bradley International Airport and drive continued growth has reached a significant milestone today. We thank Breeze Airways for recognizing Bradley International Airport’s high standing in the industry and for partnering with us to bring more jobs and exciting nonstop destinations to the region. We are honored to serve as Breeze’s fifth base and look forward to our expanded partnership."

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is supporting the project by providing a grant in arrears up to $1,262,000 contingent on the company creating and retaining 212 full-time jobs.

"Breeze’s decision to establish this new base and create hundreds of jobs is great news for the state and region and underscores Bradley’s broader importance as an economic driver," DECD Commissioner David Lehman and Peter Denious, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT, said in a joint statement. "Breeze is the latest in a long line of companies investing and putting down roots in Connecticut. The fact that the company is also adding flights is good news for business and leisure travelers alike."