After Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, a fast-growing budget airline has launched six nonstop flights across the United States and the Caribbean to fill the gap left by Spirit’s shutdown. The airline, recognized as America’s fastest-growing in Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026, is expanding rapidly and adding routes to underserved cities and international destinations formerly operated by Spirit.
New nonstop route launches and service dates
The new flights include service from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, starting February 9, 2027, and to Orlando, Florida, from May 26, 2027. Latrobe is regaining these routes under a monopoly held by Breeze Airways, restoring
connections discontinued after Spirit shut down. Myrtle Beach will also gain a nonstop flight to Boston, Massachusetts, effective May 4, 2027.
Tampa International Airport will see new nonstop flights beginning in late 2026 and mid-2027. Service to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Cancun, Mexico, will start December 19, 2026. Flights to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands will begin December 16, 2026, while service to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic is scheduled for June 18, 2027.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York will receive three new nonstop Breeze routes: to Raleigh-Durham International Airport starting June 29, 2027; to
Myrtle Beach beginning July 1, 2027; and to Charleston, South Carolina, from July 2, 2027. The Buffalo to Raleigh-Durham route replaces a Frontier Airlines service that ends this month, with the other two routes operating as the only nonstop options from Buffalo.
Focus on underserved routes and company background
Headquartered in Utah, Breeze Airways operates an A220-300 fleet and prioritizes nonstop flights between underserved city pairs rather than major hubs or crowded airports. Founded by David Neeleman, who previously established JetBlue, the airline first launched operations in May 2021 from Tampa to Charleston. In early 2026, Breeze flew 41% more flights year-over-year and currently offers more than
300 year-round and seasonal routes to 95 cities across the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Spirit Airlines financial failure and impact on routes
Spirit Airlines ended all operations on May 2, 2026, following a prolonged financial decline and a failed $500 million federal rescue deal. The airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice: first in November 2024 and again in August 2025, amassing approximately $8.1 billion in debt. These financial difficulties left several airports and routes orphaned, creating opportunities that Breeze Airways is now filling.
Breeze Airways’ new nonstop flights restore discontinued services and expand connections to international Caribbean destinations, improving travel options for passengers
out of Latrobe, Tampa, Buffalo, and other cities. The carrier holds monopoly control on some routes, such as Latrobe to Myrtle Beach and Orlando, regaining crucial air links.
