Breeze Airways announces new Florida flights from South Bend International Airport

SOUTH BEND — Breeze Airways announced Wednesday that it will begin air service with two nonstop flights between South Bend and Orlando in November and between South Bend and Fort Myers in February.

Breeze Chief Guest Officer Fiona Kiesel said flights between South Bend International Airport and Orlando International Airport will be on Thursdays and Sundays beginning Nov. 7. Flights between South Bend and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning Feb. 5.

Most flight crews will be based in Florida, she said, at the start of service, but ground crew positions will be filled locally.

Breeze officials said travelers can now begin booking flights, which will have a 35% discount through Aug. 9 for all round-trip fares.

Breeze's announcement makes South Bend the second Indiana airport serviced by the Salt Lake City-based low-cost carrier that began in 2021 with a focus on leisure destinations. It now has about 40 Airbus 220-300 aircraft offering more than 200 seasonal and year-round routes between 64 cities in 30 states. Evansville Regional Airport added Breeze flights to Orlando earlier this year.

Kiesel said Breeze looks to underserved communities and connects them to their airline network.

"With cities like Orlando and Fort Myers Beach, this is an exact fit for our business model," Kiesel said.

Kiesel said the aircraft offers what the airline calls "elevated" features, which includes a type of business class, a cabin where seats have more legroom than conventional seating layouts, WI-FI on all planes and pricing structures for things such as baggage and seat assignment.

More: Breeze Airways: What to know about fares, routes, refunds and cancellation policies

Mike Daigle, CEO and executive director of South Bend International Airport, said, "This is one of the things that continues to allow us to fulfill our mission statement, which is to serve the traveling public and the community. It will give them different options, different choices, different destinations."

The announcement makes Breeze the fifth carrier to offer flights at South Bend International, joining Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Although Florida remains an in-demand destination for South Bend travelers, Daigle said, Breeze will offer different specific destinations. For example, while Allegiant offers flights to Sandford/Orlando, he said, the direct Orlando airport flight may be better for some travelers.

David Sage, president of the St. Joseph County Airport Authority Board, said the new air service will only enhance the fact that the number of air travelers going through South Bend International this year is up 7.2% for the first half of 2024. And Breeze is the fifth different air carrier to serve South Bend, with the two new flight destinations being the 14th and 15th nonstop offerings for air travelers out of South Bend.

Currently, the airport offers direct service to Chicago; Detroit; Atlanta; Minneapolis; Dallas-Fort Worth; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, Orlando/Sanford and Sarasota/Bradenton.

The service to Knoxville started on June 14 between South Bend International and McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, which is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and other attractions.

Email Tribune staff writer Greg Swiercz at gswiercz@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Breeze Airways offers Orlando, Fort Myers flights from South Bend