Saturday, April 01, 2023
GoLocal News Editor and Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: File
This week, it was another celebration at Rhode Island International Airport for the expansion of Breeze Airways.
The airline was founded by David Neeleman, arguably the most successful entrepreneur in airline history and former co-founder of Morris Air, WestJet, JetBlue, and Azul Linhas Aereas.
Breeze’s growth is unprecedented for Rhode Island’s airport and economy.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE — SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Its operations were launched only on May 27, 2021. And now the airline is flying a record 15 direct flights or BreezeThrus to and from RI International and five more destinations are expected to be announced in the next few weeks. BreezeThru is a short stopover.
SEE BREEZE DESTINATIONS BELOW
Now, Rhode Island has been named a “Base” for Breeze and with it dedicated planes, crews, maintenance hubs, and an increase of 250 jobs.
For travelers and for tourists coming into Rhode Island, the increased flights are a boon.
“I am grateful to Breeze Airways for choosing Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island TF Green International Airport, for its base of operations. This new hub brings jobs to our state, economic activity for our small business community, and new non-stop routes that will allow countless tourists and visitors to see what is what makes Rhode Island a true destination state,” Governor Dan McKee said at a press conference this week.
For Rhode Island, the key to expanded flights is not only expanding travel options for travelers to southern New England, but also trying to fill return flights with business travelers and tourists to New England.
“Our airports are an important economic driver for the state, supporting more than 19,000 jobs and an economic impact of more than $2.6 billion a year,” said RIAC Board Chair Jonathan Savage.
SEE BREEZE DESTINATIONS BELOW
_400_500_90.jpg)
