Breeze Airways launched six nonstop flights in late 2026 and early 2027 to replace routes abandoned by Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations in May 2026. The new services include international flights to destinations in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands, expanding Breeze’s footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Breeze Airways Launches New Routes From Latrobe, Tampa, and Buffalo
Breeze Airways established nonstop flights from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina starting February 9, 2027, and to Orlando, Florida beginning May 26, 2027. Breeze holds monopoly on these Latrobe routes, restoring services discontinued after Spirit’s shutdown. Additionally, Breeze started Myrtle Beach to Boston Logan nonstop
flights from May 4, 2027.
From Tampa International Airport, Breeze introduced nonstop flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica and Cancun, Mexico on December 19, 2026, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands on December 16, 2026, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic starting June 18, 2027. At Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Breeze will begin nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham on June 29, Myrtle Beach on July 1, and Charleston, South Carolina on July 2, 2027. These Buffalo routes include a replacement for Frontier Airlines’ nonstop Buffalo-Raleigh-Durham flight, which ended in November 2026.
Breeze Airways’ Growth, Fleet, and Market Strategy
Breeze Airways, founded by JetBlue’s creator David Neeleman and headquartered in
Utah, launched its first flight in May 2021 between Tampa and Charleston. Operating an Airbus A220-300 fleet, Breeze rapidly expanded its routes to more than 300 year-round and seasonal flights serving 95 cities across the US, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In early 2026, Breeze increased its flight operations by 41% compared to the prior year and was recognized as America’s fastest-growing airline by Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026.
Breeze’s business model prioritizes nonstop service between underserved city pairs rather than adding redundant flights between major hubs, focusing on routes abandoned by other carriers including Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy and Closure
Spirit
Airlines ceased all operations on May 2, 2026, following a multi-year financial decline and failure to obtain a $500 million federal rescue package. Prior to shutdown, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice, in November 2024 and August 2025, carrying roughly $8.1 billion in debt. This financial instability led to Spirit abandoning its routes and left several airports without service, creating opportunities for Breeze Airways to expand.
Impact on Travelers with New Breeze Airways Routes
Travelers from Latrobe will regain direct nonstop access to popular destinations such as Myrtle Beach and Orlando starting in early and mid-2027. Tampa flyers benefit from new nonstop international flights to Montego Bay,
Santo Domingo, Cancun, and St. Thomas, opening more Caribbean leisure options. Buffalo travelers will have Breeze nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston by mid-2027, including replacing Frontier Airlines’ discontinued Raleigh-Durham service.
Breeze Airways sustains air connectivity on former Spirit routes while expanding international nonstop options for underserved airports in the US and the Caribbean.
