Joe McConnell
A war is raging in Connecticut between the two youngest low-cost airlines in the United States.
For months, low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has been planning major growth plans on the East Coast around Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN), which until recently had no commercial flights.
But Avelo is about to find company in New Haven, and in a big way.
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Another up-and-coming carrier, Breeze Airways, will launch service to New Haven in December, with plans to operate 10 routes from the southern Connecticut airport by February, including more than a half-dozen routes where it will directly undercut Avelo.
The two airlines will compete for some routes to Florida and other destinations in the Southeast, such as Charleston International Airport (CHS) in South Carolina and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina.
Breeze also announced plans to significantly expand its presence at Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) in the coming months, where the two carriers are already competing head-to-head. The plans, Breeze noted, include future international service.
Avelo also announces additional service in New Haven
For its part, Avelo is not giving in to the pressure. The Houston-based ultra-low-cost carrier announced Tuesday that it will launch a new nonstop flight to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) in November, its 27th destination from New Haven.
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The route will launch on November 14 with two return trips per week on Thursdays and Sundays.
Additionally, the airline said Tuesday it will add two nonstop flights from New Haven to San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting Nov. 8, and that it will expand the number of Boeing 737-800s it operates from its largest base.
“Avelo is proud to be Connecticut’s airline and to continue to grow in New Haven,” Avelo CEO Andrew Levy said in a statement Tuesday.
Breeze’s new routes
Here’s a full rundown of Breeze’s new nonstop routes from New Haven. The routes will be phased in from December through February.
| Itinerary | Throws | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| HVN at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) | December 10th | Five times a week |
| From HVN to Orlando International Airport (MCO) | December 11th | Five times a week |
| From HVN to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) | December 11th | Five times a week |
| From HVN to Vero Beach Airport (VRB) | December 13th | Twice a week |
| From HVN to Charleston International Airport (CHS) | February 6th | Four times a week |
| From HVN to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) | February 6th | Twice a week |
| From HVN to Norfolk International Airport (ORF) | February 6th | Twice a week |
| From HVN to Richmond International Airport (RIC) | February 6th | Twice a week |
| From HVN to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) | February 7th | Twice a week |
| From HVN to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) | February 7th | Twice a week |
Breeze’s Growth in the Northeast
Breeze’s major expansion into New Haven comes just days after the airline appeared to be closing in on some of Avelo’s territory, challenging it on a handful of additional New England routes, most notably Hartford.
These 10 new routes represent just the Utah-based airline’s latest expansion into the Northeast, making New Haven its eighth destination in New England and its 64th city nationwide.
“From day one, our strategy has included significant growth in the Northeast region of the United States, due to the high population density and limited nonstop travel options,” Breeze Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.
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In addition to the significant growth planned in Hartford, Breeze is planning to significantly increase its presence in Providence, the carrier announced earlier this year, to include international service.
The airline is in the “final stages” of getting certified to begin flying internationally, Breeze said Tuesday, with hopes of selling tickets for international flights by the end of the year.
A Victory for New Haven
Ultimately, while these two airlines appear to be jostling for supremacy in New Haven, it is the region’s travelers who prevail.
Just a couple of years ago, the airport had limited commercial service, eventually losing it altogether. Now, with more than two dozen destinations after the arrival of Avelo, it will soon gain additional weekly and nonstop frequencies with the arrival of a second carrier in Breeze.
It’s also worth noting that New England more broadly has been a key focus for several U.S. airlines recently. In addition to the expansion of Avelo and Breeze into Connecticut (and Breeze’s focus on Providence), JetBlue has doubled down on the region as part of its recent network realignment, with a focus on routes from the Northeast to Florida and San Juan as well.
Tweed New Haven is approximately 75 miles from New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), approximately 80 miles from downtown Manhattan, and just 50 miles from Bradley in Hartford.
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