Breeze Airways to fly direct from MacArthur Airport to Tampa
A Breeze Airways plane gets ready to take off from Long Island MacArthur Airport. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Breeze Airways is adding nonstop flights from Long Island MacArthur Airport to Tampa with one-way fares starting at $129.
The news, announced by the airport, will constitute the airline's 10th nonstop destination from the Ronkonkoma airport. Their other destinations include Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Vero Beach, Florida.
The Tampa route begins on Jan. 6. The flights will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the rates starting $129 are at FlyBreeze.com.
JetBlue, Frontier and Southwest also provide flights to Tampa from MacArthur Airport.
"These two weekly nonstops, together with four weekly BreezeThru options, give Long Island travelers six convenient ways each week to reach Tampa Bay," said Long Island MacArthur Airport Commissioner Rob Schneider. "We thank Breeze for its continued confidence in ISP and investment in the Long Island market."
Breeze also provides direct flights to Sarasota and Fort Meyers, Florida.
Avelo Airlines flies to Wilmington and Lakeland, Florida.
Breeze and other discount airlines have grown with service from MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma to destinations along the East Coast.
Dennis Kaney, board member at the Long Island Business Aviation Association, said part of the reason for the added destination could be that Long Island had a significant number of people who seek to travel South during the colder months. On top of that, he said, the appeal of the airport is that it’s easy to navigate.
"The volume of people is smaller," he said of the airport in a phone interview. "Security lines are shorter. Parking is a lot closer."
The Breeze fares start with the No Flex Fare, which does not allow any flight changes. Flight changes and additional perks, including seat selection, carry-on bags and checked luggage can be purchased at an additional cost, according to the Breeze website.
Each overhead carry-on bag can be purchased for $40 and checked bags start at $45. Purses and laptop bags are allowed at no additional charge.
"We’re delighted to see Breeze continue to expand its offerings at Islip’s MacArthur Airport," Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a statement. "Long Island travelers are enjoying Breeze’s ‘Seriously Nice’ service, and our community remains committed to working with air carriers to provide more options for local residents and visitors looking to experience all that our region has to offer."
