Breeze Airways adds nonstop flights to 5 new cities from RIC

Travelers from the Richmond region soon will be able to fly nonstop from Richmond International Airport to San Francisco, as part of route additions announced Mar. 8 by Breeze Airways.

Breeze also is adding nonstop flights between RIC and Las Vegas; Jacksonville, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; and Providence, Rhode Island. The announcements came as part of Breeze’s larger 77-route addition between 28 cities in 18 states.

The flights to and from Jacksonville will begin May 19, while those to and from San Francisco will start May 25. The other new routes will begin June 3 (Hartford), June 9 (Las Vegas) and June 30 (Providence).

The flight to San Francisco will become the longest transcontinental flight from RIC to the West Coast and should help the region attract new businesses, according to Greater Richmond Partnership President and CEO Jennifer Wakefield.

“Companies that we recruit to the region want air access and these new routes will help tremendously,” she said. “This new direct flight to San Francisco allows Richmond-headquartered companies to make significant connections to their offices on the West Coast – for the first time ever."

There are 20 Richmond-based businesses that operate facilities in San Francisco and 34 San Francisco-based firms that have a presence in the Richmond region.

Breeze currently offers four routes from RIC – to Charleston, South Carolina; New Orleans; West Palm Beach; and Tampa.

The new flights to and from San Francisco and Las Vegas will operate on a new 126-seat Airbus A220. The airline has ordered 80 of the new planes, and will receive one each month for the next six years, more than doubling its overall fleet this year. Future versions of the A220 will have 137 seats apiece, according to Breeze officials.

“The A220-300 is a game-changer for us as we now add long haul flights and transcontinental service,” said Breeze Founder and CEO David Neeleman.  “With the A220, Breeze is giving our Guests the widest cabin, highest ceiling, largest windows, and biggest overhead stowage in this class, while still managing to burn 25% less fuel, with half the noise footprint of past generations.”

Introductory fees (available for travelers who book by March 11 at 11:59 p.m. for travel by Aug. 31) start at $39 one way to Hartford, $49 one way to Jacksonville and Providence; and $99 one way to San Francisco and Las Vegas.

To learn more or book flights, visit flybreeze.com.