Breeze is one of three airlines operating out of MacArthur Airport since the departure of Southwest from the airport due to a pilot shortage.
Breeze’s footprint in New York is new, with Islip being their first airport chosen in December of 2021.
At the time of the announced partnership, Breeze’s CEO and Chairman David Neeleman said, “We see a lot of opportunity at Long Island MacArthur and I look forward to adding more routes.”
Neeleman is a Veteran of the aviation industry, founding five airlines previously.
Sticking to his initial assessment, the Jacksonville, Florida and Tampa, Florida routes will be added on May 19 and August 18, 2023, respectively.
Breeze currently offers nonstop flights from Islip to both Charleston, South Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, as well as BreezeThru service to New Orleans, Louisiana. The Jacksonville route will stop briefly in Norfolk (for 30 minutes) en route to Florida, while the Tampa service will make a similar quick stop in Charleston on the way.
The Tampa route will be operated with Airbus A220 aircraft with First Class seating available, a first for Breeze at Long Island MacArthur.
“These two new routes bring the total Breeze Airways offerings to five exciting destinations to and from Long Island MacArthur Airport, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share in this announcement,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “We value our airline partners, and look forward to adding even more destinations in the future.”
“We’re delighted to see Breeze make additional options available to our customers at Long Island MacArthur Airport. These new destinations offer fun and easy getaways for Long Islanders. They also make it convenient for travelers from all five Breeze destinations to visit the many attractions located here on Long Island,” said MacArthur Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken.
Islip’s MacArthur Airport has undergone major renovations, including an $8.4 million ground transportation center. MacArthur is also at the heart of the Midway Crossing, a $2.8 billion project that, if successful, will connect the terminal to the Ronkonkoma train station.
Amenities funded by the Midway Crossing Project aim to utilize Islip’s transportation infrastructure while taking advantage of its close proximity to New York City.
Makefloridayourhome.com describes the Tampa Bay area as “a beach lover’s paradise, with close-to-home access to everything from gorgeous white sand to laid-back, family[1]friendly beaches and charming seaside towns.”
This destination is sure to attract Long Islanders sick of winter this time next year.
