Breeze Airways setting up base at Bradley Airport; plans to hire over 200, add 8 new nonstop flights

Photo | Contributed Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.

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By Zachary Vasile

Breeze Airways plans to set up an operations hub at Bradley International Airport, a move expected to create more than 200 jobs in the state.

The Utah-based carrier, which has had a presence at Bradley since its operational launch last year, said the Windsor Locks airport will become its fifth “base of operations,” meaning the airline will permanently house aircraft there, hire local pilots, flight attendants and mechanics and launch new routes.

Breeze is adding eight nonstop destinations at Bradley, bringing its total number of destinations available in Connecticut from four to 12. Company officials said they will announce where those new destinations are in the coming weeks.

Breeze currently offers flights from Bradley to Charleston, South Carolina, Columbus, Ohio, Norfolk, Virginia and Pittsburgh.

The state Department of Economic and Community Development is supporting the project with a grant in arrears of up to $1.3 million, contingent upon the company creating and retaining 212 full-time jobs.

“Over the last few years, Bradley has gained a national reputation as one of the best operated and most convenient airports in the country, and airlines are taking note as they increase their service and add more routes from Connecticut’s largest airport,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “Bradley is a key economic driver for our state, and the more airlines and destinations that we can add from the airport, the more attractive Connecticut becomes to companies that are seeking to grow their own operations.”