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5/22/2024
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Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Ruggerio Applaud Major Expansion of Breeze Airways in RI
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 PROVIDENCE — Legislative leaders joined the Rhode Island Airport Corporation today to celebrate the announcement by David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ Founder and CEO, to significantly expand operations at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) and have the airport serve as a connecting travel hub for the growing airline. Today’s announcement of more routes, more jobs, and more passengers was made just three years after Breeze Airways selected PVD as one of the start-up airline’s 16 inaugural airports.
“This is tremendous news for Rhode Island as we celebrate the success of both a growing airline and our local airport,” said Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “In just three years, Breeze Airways has already demonstrated a winning track record that provides tangible benefits for our state economy, helping to foster improved tourism between regions, as well as, providing convenient inter-continental connections between Rhode Island and the nation, and we look forward to building upon our shared success!”
“We are thrilled that Breeze Airways has brought so many new jobs, new routes and new visitors to our state,” said Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence). “Rhode Island’s state leadership has collectively made a commitment to support our travel and tourism economy and we are pleased to see to see that this return on investment is paying significant dividends.”
Two years ago, Breeze Airways announced a commitment to grow operations over the following five years with up to 20 nonstop routes, 44 departing flights per week, 1 west coast route, 6 based aircraft, and 200 to 250 jobs. As Breeze Airways celebrates its 3rd anniversary at PVD, the airline has already met or exceeded many of those goals, with 6 based aircraft, 18 nonstop routes, 2 west coast destinations, 120 flights per week, 205 jobs, and 278,000 annual passengers, all in advance of their 2027 goals.
Under a new agreement, over the next five years, Breeze Airways would offer a total of 35 underserved or unserved nonstop routes, among them seven routes to destinations west of the Mississippi and up to 12 locally-based aircraft flying 200 flights per week. Additionally, at least three of the 35 Breeze destinations within the next five years will be international destinations. In order to provide seamless connections with other airlines, Breeze Airways will pursue “interline agreements” with international carriers over the next three years. This development will allow PVD to become a connecting hub for the airline and their partners as domestic and international travel grows. The expansion of operations and service is expected to result in up to 1 million passengers at PVD annually and up to 400 jobs over the next ten years.
For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2466
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