8 Breeze Airways flights launch at SRQ this fall, winter

Breeze Airways began nonstop flights between Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Westchester, New York,  Oct. 31. Suburban New York was the first in a series of eight destinations that will be offered by the low-cost airline in the months ahead.

“The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is excited to support the continued expansion of nonstop destinations provided by Breeze,” SRQ President and CEO Rick Piccolo says in a statement, "and looks forward to welcoming visitors from the New York metropolitan area."

In November, Breeze Airways will offer service to six more destinations, and it is adding another in February 2025.

Here are the new routes from SRQ and when they will begin:

• Westchester County, New York: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays starting Oct. 31.
• Akron-Canton, Ohio: Wednesdays and Saturdays starting Nov. 20.
• Portland, Maine: Wednesdays and Saturdays starting Nov. 20.
• Long Island-Islip, New York: Thursdays and Sundays starting Nov. 21
• Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: Mondays and Fridays starting Nov. 22
• Richmond, Virginia: Mondays and Fridays starting Nov. 22
• Syracuse, New York: One stop/no plane change Mondays and Fridays starting Nov. 22
• New Haven, Connecticut: Mondays and Fridays starting Feb. 7, 2025

Breeze Airways first launched in 2021, with Its business model focused on bypassing hubs and providing flights to underserved cities. The first Breeze destination from SRQ was Hartford, Connecticut, in June 2022. The following year it added Providence, Rhode Island.

In November 2022, the airline began offering flights from SRQ to Westchester, New York, the Business Observer reported.

"The flight was previously operated seasonally. However, we’ve always seen strong demand from Sarasota-Bradenton to Westchester County, and recent adjustments in our network at SRQ have made it easier to run this route," a spokesperson for Breeze Airways says in an email to the Business Observer. "We are excited to bring it back, and while it’s currently running seasonally, we’re hopeful it will run year-round with enough demand."

To promote its latest offering, Breeze is providing one-way fares between SRQ and Westchester, New York, starting at $69. The rate is available until Nov. 14 for travel by May 13, 2025.

“New York is a hugely popular getaway for fall foliage, and Breeze’s premium leisure service makes it more accessible than ever,” Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman says in a statement. “We’re thrilled to bring back nonstop service to Westchester and eight...nonstops/BreezeThrus from Sarasota-Bradenton this fall and winter.”

Breeze Airways offers free family seating and a la carte pricing for things like extra legroom. The airline provides routes between 66 cities in 30 states.