More news on this day
Breeze Airways is expanding its Florida footprint with new nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale, giving travelers in multiple mid-sized cities cheaper, more direct access to South Florida’s beaches, cruise terminals and theme-park gateways.
New Nonstop Links to Fort Lauderdale Take Off
The latest additions to Breeze’s network include new nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale from Birmingham, Alabama, Salisbury, Maryland, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, part of a broader push to connect underserved airports with major leisure hubs across the country.
From Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Breeze will introduce nonstop flights to Fort Lauderdale with promotional one-way fares starting at 59 dollars, positioning the route as one of the cheapest ways to reach South Florida from central Alabama. Flights are slated to begin July 3, offering a midsummer launch timed to both peak vacation demand and the start of the busy cruise season in Fort Lauderdale.
In Maryland, travel to South Florida will also get easier. Breeze has announced new nonstop flights from Salisbury Regional Airport to Fort Lauderdale beginning July 1. The route will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at an introductory promotional fare from 79 dollars one way, expanding on Breeze’s existing Salisbury service to Orlando and giving residents a second direct option into Florida.
Further up the Atlantic coast, Myrtle Beach International Airport has already welcomed Breeze’s newest route to Fort Lauderdale. Launched in mid-January, the service started with twice-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays, with plans to ramp up to four weekly frequencies from February, adding Tuesday and Saturday operations as demand grows.
Affordable Fares Into a Gateway for Florida’s Top Destinations
Breeze is positioning Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as a cost-conscious entry point to many of Florida’s most popular destinations. The airport offers quick access not only to Fort Lauderdale’s own beaches and waterfront neighborhoods, but also to nearby Miami, Palm Beach County and key cruise terminals serving the Caribbean and Bahamas.
For travelers from Birmingham, Salisbury and Myrtle Beach, the new flights effectively create low-fare corridors to Florida’s broader tourism network. From Fort Lauderdale, visitors can connect by car or rail to Miami’s nightlife and cultural districts, or head north to family-focused resorts in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. The region also serves as a staging point for travelers continuing on to Central Florida theme parks via a relatively short drive or onward flights.
The introductory prices on the new routes underscore Breeze’s strategy of stimulating demand with headline fares that undercut many legacy competitors. With starting prices advertised as low as 59 or 79 dollars one way on select Fort Lauderdale flights, the airline is directly targeting price-sensitive leisure travelers as well as families who might otherwise drive long distances or avoid air travel altogether.
Airport officials in each of the new departure cities have framed the Breeze routes as both a travel convenience and an economic opportunity. Increased connectivity to Fort Lauderdale is expected to boost outbound tourism while also making it easier for South Florida residents and seasonal visitors to reach Gulf Coast beaches, Atlantic resorts and inland cities across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Strengthening Breeze’s Florida Network
The Fort Lauderdale expansion builds on a pattern of rapid growth for Breeze across Florida. In addition to the new link from Salisbury, the airline has recently added and expanded service from Myrtle Beach to both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, gradually knitting together a web of secondary and mid-sized airports with some of the state’s busiest vacation gateways.
Fort Lauderdale joins Orlando and other Florida airports as key pillars in Breeze’s network, which emphasizes point-to-point routes that avoid congested hubs. The airline typically connects cities with limited or no existing nonstop service, offering travelers in those markets a faster and often cheaper alternative to connecting through larger airports.
Industry observers note that by anchoring more capacity in Fort Lauderdale, Breeze is moving into a competitive but opportunity-rich market where low-cost carriers have historically thrived by focusing on leisure travelers. As other airlines adjust schedules and capacity, new entrants such as Breeze are carving out space with carefully timed flights and simplified fare structures aimed at weekend getaways and short holidays.
For Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the additional routes add to a growing roster of low-fare and hybrid carriers that are widening the range of price points and destinations available to travelers. That competition has the potential to keep fares in check across the market, especially during peak winter and spring break periods when demand for South Florida flights typically surges.
What Travelers Can Expect Onboard
Breeze Airways markets itself as a “premium leisure” carrier, blending low headline fares with optional upgrades and a relatively modern fleet designed for comfort on routes up to a few hours in length. The airline primarily operates Airbus A220-300 and Embraer jets configured with a mix of standard economy seating and an enhanced front-cabin product on select aircraft.
On the new Fort Lauderdale routes, travelers can expect a choice of fare bundles that unbundle extras such as checked luggage, advance seat selection and extra legroom. While the lowest promotional fares are highly restricted and typically include just a personal item or carry-on, higher-tier bundles allow guests to add flexibility and comfort without reaching the price levels often associated with full-service carriers.
The relatively short flight times from Birmingham, Salisbury and Myrtle Beach to Fort Lauderdale make the routes attractive to families and weekend travelers who prioritize schedule convenience and nonstops over in-flight frills. The ability to avoid connections can significantly reduce total travel time, especially for passengers originating from smaller airports that previously required at least one change of planes to reach South Florida.
As Breeze’s network matures, the airline is also emphasizing digital booking channels and app-based management of itineraries, positioning itself squarely in the mobile-first space where many leisure travelers now plan trips. That aligns with its strategy of targeting customers who are flexible on dates and ready to act quickly when low promotional fares are released.
Expanding Options for Summer and Winter Escapes
The timing of Breeze’s Fort Lauderdale expansion is geared toward both the peak summer travel season and the perennial popularity of South Florida as a winter escape. With flights from Birmingham and Salisbury launching in early July, travelers in those regions will gain new options for beach vacations, cruises and family visits during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
At Myrtle Beach, the ramp-up in Fort Lauderdale service through winter and into spring directly targets snowbirds and vacationers looking to split time between the Carolinas and South Florida. Additional frequencies provide more flexibility on trip length and departure days, an important factor for travelers planning around school calendars and limited vacation time.
For destinations at the Florida end of the route, the new flights are expected to support hotels, attractions and cruise lines that rely heavily on convenient air access. Easier, more affordable flights into Fort Lauderdale can widen the catchment area for both short-break and longer-stay visitors, spreading economic benefits beyond the airport itself to neighborhoods, beaches and nearby cities across South Florida.
With multiple new Fort Lauderdale routes now on its map, Breeze Airways is signaling that it sees sustained demand for low-cost, nonstop access to one of Florida’s most important travel gateways. For travelers in Birmingham, Salisbury, Myrtle Beach and beyond, that should translate into more choice, more competition and, at least for now, some of the lowest fares available to the Sunshine State.