Listen to this articleBreeze Airways has announced new nonstop service to Fort Myers from Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, beginning Oct. 2.
Fares start from $89 one way if purchased by July 1 for travel by Jan. 7, 2025, the airline said in a news release about the service to Fort Myers. The flights will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
“MacArthur Airport customers made it clear that they want, need, and will support year-round flight options so they may conveniently travel between Long Island and Fort Myers,” Angie Carpenter, supervisor of the Town of Islip, which owns the airport, said in the news release.
“We’ve been listening and working hard with our airline partners to meet the overwhelming demand for Fort Myers service,” Carpenter said. “We’re thrilled that Breeze Airways stepped up to serve this much-loved route from easy ISP.”
“Breeze’s focus is on connecting underserved markets, adding nonstops between cities with limited or no existing service,” Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey said in the news release.
“Long Island’s Macarthur Airport is a perfect example of how Breeze’s premium leisure low-cost product has found its footing with great routes and added affordability and convenience,” he added. “We know the community will enjoy this new route to Florida.”
The new service to Fort Myers was welcome news for Long Island’s business leaders.
“The continued expansion of MacArthur Airport will have a ripple effect through the entire regional economy, and it’s a testament to the hard work of Supervisor Carpenter and the airport team to capitalize on the full potential of this significant asset,” said Matt Cohen, president and chief executive officer of the Long Island Association, the regions largest business group, and headquartered in Melville.
The region’s business community has long pushed for additional nonstop service to and from the airport. Back in 2021, the HIA-LI released an analysis that said that by adding more nonstop flights, the airport could more than double business air travel, generating more than $1 billion in new revenue each year.
Breeze, which began operations in May 2021, was founded by serial airline entrepreneur David Neeleman, who has launched five commercial air carriers, including JetBlue. Breeze began flying out of Islip in February of 2022, and has added flights, including to North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Maine and Florida.
Airlines that also serve Long Island MacArthur Airport include Southwest and Frontier Airlines and beginning in October, JetBlue will begin offering flights to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.
