DAYTONA BEACH — Volusia County officials and tourism leaders cheered Breeze Airways' announcement Wednesday morning of its plans to offer year-round nonstop service at Daytona Beach International Airport to four new destinations.
It was hailed as the biggest air service announcement in the Volusia County airport's history.
"Four new destinations? My god," said Bob Davis, CEO of the Hotel & Lodging Association of Volusia County.
Lori Campbell Baker, executive director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, called Breeze's announcement as a "historic occasion."
What are the new destinations and when do the routes begin?
The Utah-based low-cost airline will launch its service to Westchester County (White Plains), New York, on Thursdays and Sundays, beginning Nov. 14.
It will add flights on Thursdays and Sundays beginning Feb. 13, 2025, to and from Hartford, Connecticut, and to and from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Then it will add flights on Mondays and Fridays beginning Feb. 14, 2025, to and from Providence, Rhode Island.
Breeze exec: 'We're nice people flying nice people to nice places'
Brian McCormick, director of airport properties for Breeze, who lives in Stuart, Florida, was on hand to announce the airline's decision to add service at Daytona Beach International Airport.
"I just checked the long-term forecast for this winter and I'm happy to tell you that Daytona Beach is in for a seriously nice Breeze," he said to applause and cheers from the gathering as new electronic signage for the airline was unveiled on the wall behind the airport's long row of baggage check-in counters.
"Our purpose at Breeze is simple: we're nice people, flying nice people to nice places and we're bringing our seriously nice form of air travel right here to Daytona Beach," he said.
What makes Breeze different?
Low-cost airlines advertise cheap base air fares, but add fees for "extras" that can quickly add up, such as checked bags, choosing seats as opposed to random seating, inflight WiFi and inflight snacks and beverages.
McCormick told the gathering at Daytona Beach airport how Breeze is different.
"Our fare structure allows guests to build their own adventure, whether they want to fly with just a backpack or sit up front in our spacious Breeze Ascent business class seats or choose one of our 'Nice,' 'Nicer,' or 'Nicest' bundles featuring full flexibility and no change or cancellation fees," he said.
According to its website, Breeze offers four different types of air fares: "No Flex Fare" (no-frills basic fare whose purchasers are the last to be seated); "Nice" (includes a free carry-on item, standard seat, and general boarding); "Nicer" (free carry-on item, one free checked bag, extra leg room, free inflight WiFi, priority boarding); and "Nicest" (one carry-on item, free inflight WiFi, recliner seat, two free checked bags, priority boarding, free inflight snacks and drinks). All options allow one free personal item.
McCormick in an interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal added that Breeze also offers what it calls "complimentary family seating." What asked what that means, he said, "We don't charge for moving (seat assignments) and allowing you to sit together."
He added, "We call ourselves an NLCC: a nice, low-cost carrier."
What drew them to Daytona Beach?
Karen Feaster, airport director at Daytona Beach International Airport, said Breeze's announcement on Wednesday was the culmination of years of talks with the airline's route planners to try to convince them to give Daytona Beach a shot.
"We'd been talking with our friends at Breeze for years and that's why it's so nice to be able to have this announcement," she said.
McCormick on Wednesday said, "We believe in Daytona Beach. Markets like Daytona Beach fit our model to a 't.' We seek to serve under-served markets in need of affordable air service. Add to that the convenience of flying right from your backyard (as opposed to driving to Orlando to catch a flight) and you'll soon discover that Breeze gets you there twice as fast at half the cost."
The airport has agreed to provide Breeze with the standard incentives it offers to all airlines new to Daytona Beach: a two-year waiver of fees such as for landing and baggage handling as well as for rent.
In addition the airport and Convention & Visitors Bureau have both pledged to assist Breeze in marketing its new routes.
While run by the county, the airport operates as an "enterprise fund," meaning that its expenses are covered by the revenues it generates and from state and federal grants (which are typically for construction projects). It is not supported by ad valorem taxes collected from county residents.
Economic impact to the area could be huge
Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower said the estimated economic impact to the area by having Breeze offer its four new nonstop routes here could be as much as $21 million annually "from the people that visit here, spend money, eat at our restaurants, stay in our motels and attend conferences."
The latter could greatly benefit the county-run Ocean Center convention facility in Daytona Beach as well as area hotels that offer meeting space, said local tourism officials.
Brower noted that Breeze's planned new routes also give locals more options for flying to the Northeast as well as to North Carolina without having to drive to Orlando to catch a flight. "It's a win-win all the way around," he said.
Tourism officials eager to promote the new flights
Baker said the CVB has $150,000 allocated in its annual budget to promote air service at Daytona Beach International Airport to new destinations.
"We can't wait to go back to the office and look at strategy on how we're going to market (Breeze's new routes)," she said. "We'll be working very closely with the airport team and with the Breeze team."
The good news, Baker said, is that the CVB already has tourism marketing campaigns promoting Daytona Beach in some of the cities that Breeze plans to offer nonstop flights to here.
"It's important for us as Volusia County residents to use this airport and to take these flights as well," she said. "It's only going to work if we support it on both sides."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 'A win-win': Breeze Airways greeted with open arms to Daytona airport
